Free State Health to refurbish Vaal Rock clinic in Brandfort
 
 

The Department of Health in the Free State province continues to keep the promises it made last year in an interview with this publication.
 
The reopening of the Heidedal clinic which cost the department R10 million as MEC Tsiu said, was the beginning of a new era as the department plans to renovate most of the clinics since most of the facilities were inherited from apartheid; moreover, they were small and user friendly.

“This is also a plan to fight teenage pregnancy because the youth will be able to voice out their frustrations with people they feel comfortable with.”
 
On 26 September 2021, Step UP SA News published an article concerning the Vaal Rocks clinic that was burned by the community of Brandfort, we asked Tsiu when will this clinic be refurbished to which she said “soon”.
 
Hardly eight months later Step UP SA can confirm Godfrey Mahlatsi, Health HoD was in Brandfort among others, and was confirmed by Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department of health.
 
“HoD has found that the population of this town has grown and that there might be a need for another clinic in areas of the population growth which makes it far for them to reach services with ease.”
 
Mvambi said the HoD also checked what can be done to fast-track renovations.
 
“He looked into what can be done to fast track renovations at Vaal Rock so that the renovations can be done quicker nearer to the clinic.
 
We were advised by our infrastructure directorate that Vall Rock clinic in Brandfort will be attended to between the end of this financial year and the beginning of the new financial year.”

What is clear is that Brandfort residents will have a clinic in no time otherwise we will hold the department accountable as they put the timelines themselves.
 
Over and above the successful operations in Alfred Nzuza in Xhariep and Fezi Ngubemtombi in Sasolburg, the department seem to be focusing on disadvantaged communities.

Step UP took a short left at Pelonomi hospital and we can confirm that Orthopaedic operations from 1 April till 22 June 2022 the hospital registered 592 while Alfred Nzuza registered 63 in the same period.
 
It’s too early to tell how the department will be dealing with monkeypox as the province has not yet registered a single case.
 
If you have any news or tips please send us an email at news@stepupsanews.co.za or WhatsApp at 0685000246