SACP Northern Cape Statement on the Red October Campaign

10 October 2007

THEME: FREE, QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES

The South African Communist Party in the Northern Cape herewith supported by the following fraternal organisations, NEHAWU, DENOSA and NAPWA amongst others wishes to announce its Red October Campaign which focuses on FREE and QUALITY health services.

The above organisations have jointly visited the Kimberly Hospital today and were exposed to the difficult conditions that health professionals have to work under such as the shortage of personnel and conditions that are indicative of poor resourcing of the public health system.

For the duration of the campaign we will visit numerous facilities in the province and engage different stakeholders in order to highlight and address the challenges facing the public health system.

The campaign will mainly seek to bring the following issues which have been identified as the Achilles heels to service delivery in the Northern Cape:

1. Poor financing and resourcing of the health system.
2. Improving of service delivery.
3. Support to Community Health Workers to strengthen the fight against TB, HIV and AIDS.
4. Develop a consistent food security programme at the level of government.
5. The training of nurses and other health professionals.
6. The establishment of clinic committees and hospitals.
7. Raise the dangers of an overarching private health sector that is unaffordable to the majority of our people.

Of concern the absence of doctors in areas such as Rietfontein where some of our people are ravaged by HIV and AIDS. As part of the programme the SACP will deliver a memorandum to the government containing its findings and those of its allies to government. More importantly to highlight the need to resource the health system appropriately both in terms of human resources and health technology requires quality services.

We believe that the Northern Cape must develop a comprehensive plan to address the staffing needs in the health sector, beyond the Occupational Special Dispensation which is applicable in all the provinces. Our unique and rural conditions present special challenges for the need to attract appropriate skills.

We also call on the civil society in general to support this campaign. Particularly organised formations such as churches which should establish support groups for those affected and infected by HIV in order to deal stigmatization a blow. We call all our people, especially health professionals to support this campaign.

Issued by SACP Northern Cape.

Contact:

Norman Shushu
SACP NC Provincial Secretary
082 376 8311