Eastern Cape health MEC Dr Pumza Dyantyi turned the first sod this week for a brand new R22-million clinic in Hamburg.
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the contractor, Kinex Power Projects, had been hired to build a clinic with five consulting rooms and two nursing staff houses for the community.
Kupelo said the project, in partnership with the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), is due for completion in a year’s time.
The Daily Dispatch has covered the plight of the community whose clinic was being operated from a severely dilapidated house cracked open by severe winds and rain in 2012.
The old clinic, established in the early 1980s, was far from the community, and the elderly struggled to reach it.
Some had to walk as far as 14km over hills.
As a result, the facility struggled to retain nurses and was short-staffed, but despite this it was kept going and its dispensary was kept fully stocked.
Early last year, CDC tendered for a new building and the community expressed a new sense of hope.
In 2013, the facility was moved to temporary premises while the new building was being planned.
The clinic now operates from the local hospice.
The site for the new building is not far from the hospice, which is on the main taxi route and close to other amenities.
Community leader Mzikayise Makubalo said residents came out in their numbers to the sod-turning event, which was a sign they had been waiting for this for a long time.
“Since 1996 our fathers have been fighting for this clinic and the youth just took over their fight.
“What made us happy was MEC Dyantyi telling us that she didn’t want to put a spade in the soil before confirming the contractor’s appointment.
“She brought the contractor with her to the event and he also gave us confidence when he promised that he would see this project through to the end,” said Makubalo.
He said another delight for the community was the promise of 40 initial jobs for the project, with hopes of more jobs once the facility was up and running.
Makubalo said names were already being collected in the community for placement in the posts. “We are very positive about all this,” he said.
Kupelo said: “The government is committed to strengthening primary healthcare in the province, and as we re-engineer we are also focusing on staff attitudes, security, cleanliness and availability of drugs.”
Hamburg clinic project finally kicks off
Provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the contractor, Kinex Power Projects, had been hired to build a clinic with five consulting rooms and two nursing staff houses for the community.
Kupelo said the project, in partnership with the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), is due for completion in a year’s time.
The Daily Dispatch has covered the plight of the community whose clinic was being operated from a severely dilapidated house cracked open by severe winds and rain in 2012.
The old clinic, established in the early 1980s, was far from the community, and the elderly struggled to reach it.
Some had to walk as far as 14km over hills.
As a result, the facility struggled to retain nurses and was short-staffed, but despite this it was kept going and its dispensary was kept fully stocked.
Early last year, CDC tendered for a new building and the community expressed a new sense of hope.
In 2013, the facility was moved to temporary premises while the new building was being planned.
The clinic now operates from the local hospice.
The site for the new building is not far from the hospice, which is on the main taxi route and close to other amenities.
Community leader Mzikayise Makubalo said residents came out in their numbers to the sod-turning event, which was a sign they had been waiting for this for a long time.
“Since 1996 our fathers have been fighting for this clinic and the youth just took over their fight.
“What made us happy was MEC Dyantyi telling us that she didn’t want to put a spade in the soil before confirming the contractor’s appointment.
“She brought the contractor with her to the event and he also gave us confidence when he promised that he would see this project through to the end,” said Makubalo.
He said another delight for the community was the promise of 40 initial jobs for the project, with hopes of more jobs once the facility was up and running.
Makubalo said names were already being collected in the community for placement in the posts. “We are very positive about all this,” he said.
Kupelo said: “The government is committed to strengthening primary healthcare in the province, and as we re-engineer we are also focusing on staff attitudes, security, cleanliness and availability of drugs.”
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