Foundation hands over clinic to Department of Health
2007-11-16
Namakgale’s Zone A Clinic was officially handed over to Limpopo’s Department of Health & Social Development (DoH) last Friday. The provincial MEC for Health, Seaparo Sekoati, shared centre stage with Keith Marshall, Managing Director of Palabora Mining Company (PMC), as well as Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality’s Honourable Mayor, Gloria Valoyi.
The clinic was started in 1977 by PMC because the nearest medical facilities were too far away. It was a generous donation of two houses but, due to lack of government budget to maintain them, the DoH wanted to close the clinic in 2004 because it was unsafe. The department approached the Palabora Foundation to save the clinic, and their plea was heard: the old clinic was demolished and a new clinic was built at a final cost of around R600 000. The rebuilding of the clinic started in 2005. The DoH agreed to retain their staff to run the clinic, and the success of this partnership was proven last week by the formal handover.
All of the dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony emphasised the need for partnership between the government, NGOs such as the Palabora Foundation, and private companies. In the words of the Honourable Mayor, “As local government, we cannot succeed without support from the private sector”.
The MEC for Health was warmly welcomed, in part because of his close ties to the area, having been brought up in Namakgale. MEC Seaparo Sekoati thanked all those who had made it possible to keep the clinic open, in particular PMC, without whose intervention thirty years ago, there would be no celebration now. He hoped that the partnership would be emulated in other parts of the province and the country. He urged the community to continue to support the clinic but also to take responsibility for their own health. He urged us all to exercise and eat healthy food, because it is up to each of us to take charge of our own life and health. Shortly after his speech, MEC Sekoati was treated to a song by a local choir, with his own name as the chorus.
The programme director, David Maake of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, joked between the speeches that he had been pushing for a clinic in Mashishimale and was sure something would come of it soon.
During his speech, Keith Marshall explained that PMC and Foskor’s recent commercial success can only be good news for the community. However, there will always be tough times caused by fluctuations in the commodities market; and facilities such as the clinic lay the foundations for us to survive those leaner periods. He mentioned David Maake’s urge for a Mashishimale Clinic and said that it was certainly something they would talk about; that many companies are all talk and no action, but it was clear from this event that in Phalaborwa we don’t just talk. However, he was careful not to make any promises.
The Honourable Mayor, Gloria Valoyi, echoed the sentiments of the other speakers and thanked everyone for their contributions.
After drawing back the curtain on the plaque and cutting the ribbon, those attending the ceremony had the opportunity to look around the renovated clinic. A crowd of local people who had gathered to welcome them then listened to the MEC. The ceremony drew to a close after Mhalamhala School’s choral speakers were persuaded to perform an educational piece about diabetes.
Like all good community celebrations, the event finished with a healthy buffet at Namakgale Town Hall, enjoyed by more than a hundred guests including local health care officials and traditional authority representatives.
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