The Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness has made impressive progress in promoting health and wellness for all citizens in 2022. This includes deploying outreach teams, expanding community health centres, reducing waiting times, and focusing on the early detection and management of diabetes and hypertension. The department achieved an unqualified audit opinion and allocated over R2 billion to township enterprises. Their commitment to continuous learning and improvement ensures that every citizen in Gauteng has access to quality healthcare.
What progress has the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness made in 2022?
In 2022, the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness made significant strides towards promoting health and wellness for all citizens. It deployed 13,700 Ward-Based Outreach Teams, expanded Community Health Centers offering round-the-clock services, reduced waiting times at healthcare facilities, and focused on the early detection and management of diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, the department achieved an unqualified audit opinion and allocated over R2 billion to township enterprises.
A Year of Accomplishments
In 2022, under the unwavering leadership of Ms. Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness made substantial progress in achieving its goal – the promotion of health and wellness for all its people. The department’s journey, highlighted by resilience, inclusivity, and innovation, was punctuated by a series of noteworthy achievements, positioning Gauteng as a shining model of healthcare in South Africa.
The department’s firm commitment to Primary Health Care (PHC) as the foundation of a viable healthcare system has remained unflinching. This commitment was robustly demonstrated through significant advances in reaching underprivileged communities. The department successfully deployed 13,700 Ward-Based Outreach Teams that conducted over 680,000 initial visits to households and over 3.5 million subsequent visits, delivering health services directly to people at the comfort of their homes and linking them with established medical facilities. These teams played a pivotal role in community health screening and health education.
Education, Accessibility, and Quality of Healthcare
The department also displayed an unwavering resolve to improve the learning environment in public schools by addressing health and social challenges that hinder education. In the past year, the department successfully reached out to an impressive number of 120,000 learners with integrated school health services, marking a significant 60% increase compared to the previous year. These services ranged from deworming, immunisation, weight assessments, eye and hearing care, TB referrals, to Td doses. There was a remarkable 93% increase in the number of learners who received deworming doses compared to the prior financial year.
In the wake of the post-pandemic era, the department noted significant improvements in facility utilization in the PHC realm. Notably, patient visits to PHC facilities increased from 18.6 million in 2021/22 to 19.7 million in the year under review. This surge indicates a renewed faith in the healthcare system, highlighting the efficiency of the public health measures put in place.
To further improve healthcare accessibility, particularly in underserved areas, the department increased the number of Community Health Centres (CHCs) offering round-the-clock services from 36 to 38. This development is a crucial stride in the strategy to ensure 24-hour healthcare access, especially for those in distant or less-served areas. These 24-hour CHCs function as an integral part of the healthcare network, offering both preventive and primary care services.
Improving Patient Experience and Addressing Mental Health
The department’s commitment to enhancing Primary Health Care Universal Coverage is evidenced by its vigorous efforts to improve the quality of care. Over the year in focus, 358 out of 368 facilities – that’s 97.3% of those assessed – attained the ideal clinic status under the Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance (ICRM) programme. This translates to a 5% increase compared to the previous year, underscoring the department’s persistent efforts to improve the quality of care in primary health facilities.
In a bid to improve patient experience through efficient service delivery, the department has made commendable strides in reducing queues and waiting times at healthcare facilities. Key to these efforts is the innovative Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme that has transformed how patients get their medications. By the close of the 2022/23 financial year, approximately 1.2 million clients were enrolled in the CCMDD programme, a 10% increase from the previous year.
Recognizing mental health as a global challenge, the department has put in place several initiatives at the primary healthcare level to support individuals with mental health conditions. The department allocated 230 beds in District Hospitals and another 230 in Regional Hospitals specifically for mental health services, marking a 5% increase in Regional Hospitals and a 3% rise in District Hospitals compared to the previous year.
Fighting HIV/AIDS, Non-Communicable Diseases and Maternal Health
In battling HIV/AIDS, the department made significant progress, administering over 5.3 million HIV tests in the 2022/23 financial year. This reflects a 6% increase from the previous year, underscoring the department’s steadfast commitment to the fight.
In terms of non-communicable diseases, the department put a strong focus on the early detection and management of diabetes and hypertension. Over the year in review, over 7.2 million clients were screened for diabetes and more than 7.6 million for hypertension.
The department also demonstrated strong commitment towards maternal and child health. A crucial aspect of this strategy has been the focus on increasing the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Over the year in focus, the department recorded 229,000 ANC visits, 69.2% of which were initial visits conducted within 20 weeks.
Financial Accountability and the Road Ahead
In financial terms, the department achieved an unqualified audit opinion in the 2022/23 financial year, a significant milestone that underscores its commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability in operations. Of the total expenditure on goods and services, over R2 billion, which is a considerable 33.8%, was allocated to township enterprises, demonstrating the department’s dedication to fostering local economic growth.
The department’s ethos, akin to the words of Maya Angelou, remains one of continuous learning and improvement. Every decision, allocation, and expenditure is underpinned by the best current understanding and a commitment to do even better as progress is made.
In conclusion, while celebrating these achievements, it’s crucial to remember that the journey is ongoing. The health and wellness of the citizens remain a continuous commitment, and the department pledges to continue this journey with unwavering vigour and dedication, ensuring that every citizen in Gauteng has access to quality healthcare.
1. What progress has the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness made in 2022?
In 2022, the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness made significant strides towards promoting health and wellness for all citizens. It deployed 13,700 Ward-Based Outreach Teams, expanded Community Health Centers offering round-the-clock services, reduced waiting times at healthcare facilities, and focused on the early detection and management of diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, the department achieved an unqualified audit opinion and allocated over R2 billion to township enterprises.
2. How did the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness improve healthcare accessibility?
The Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness increased the number of Community Health Centres (CHCs) offering round-the-clock services from 36 to 38. This development is a crucial stride in the strategy to ensure 24-hour healthcare access, especially for those in distant or less-served areas. These 24-hour CHCs function as an integral part of the healthcare network, offering both preventive and primary care services.
3. What measures did the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness take to improve patient experience?
The department has made commendable strides in reducing queues and waiting times at healthcare facilities. Key to these efforts is the innovative Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme that has transformed how patients get their medications. By the close of the 2022/23 financial year, approximately 1.2 million clients were enrolled in the CCMDD programme, a 10% increase from the previous year.
4. How did the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness address mental health?
The department put in place several initiatives at the primary healthcare level to support individuals with mental health conditions. The department allocated 230 beds in District Hospitals and another 230 in Regional Hospitals specifically for mental health services, marking a 5% increase in Regional Hospitals and a 3% rise in District Hospitals compared to the previous year.
5. What progress did the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness make in fighting HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and maternal health?
In battling HIV/AIDS, the department made significant progress, administering over 5.3 million HIV tests in the 2022/23 financial year. This reflects a 6% increase from the previous year, underscoring the department’s steadfast commitment to the fight. Over the year in review, over 7.2 million clients were screened for diabetes and more than 7.6 million for hypertension. The department also focused on increasing the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Over the year in focus, the department recorded 229,000 ANC visits, 69.2% of which were initial visits conducted within 20 weeks.
6. What was the financial performance of the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness in 2022?
The department achieved an unqualified audit opinion in the 2022/23 financial year, a significant milestone that underscores its commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability in operations. Of the total expenditure on goods and services, over R2 billion, which is a considerable 33.8%, was allocated to township enterprises, demonstrating the department’s dedication to fostering local economic growth.
