City Health started offering services to the Pelican Park community in 2012 via a satellite facility which operated from Lotus River clinic. When the clinic closed due to ongoing vandalism, services to the community were rendered from the satellite clinic in Pelican Park. It soon became clear that a larger facility was needed to meet the primary health care needs of its growing population. Construction on the R46 million clinic began in July 2017.
‘The opening of this clinic today is another indication that the City of Cape Town remains committed to providing quality services to residents who can now seek a wide-range of medical services from the fully-fledged clinic. We saw the need for a larger facility and as an inclusive city, it was also a partnership with the community as they were involved in the art work, sculptures and murals that are displayed in the building. We hope residents will make full use of the facility as well as help us to protect it from vandalism,’ said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.
The Pelican Park Community Day Centre (CDC) is the biggest project ever undertaken by City Health and will provide comprehensive primary health care services to the communities of Pelican Park, Eagle Park, New Horizon, Lotus River, and surrounding areas which include nearly 80 000 people.
Some of the health services offered at the facility include:
- Child Health services, such as immunisation, nutrition supplementation, breastfeeding advice, curative services for sick children and prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, among others.
- Women’s Health Services, such as family planning, pregnancy tests, counselling and referral for termination of pregnancy, basic antenatal care and post-natal care as well as pap smears and breast examinations
- Men’s Health Services
- TB Testing and Treatment
- HIV Counselling and Testing, Support and Treatment
- Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Curative Services for Adults and Management of Chronic Conditions
- Screening for Hypertension and Diabetes
- Services to Persons over 60 years
- Substance Abuse Counselling and Referral for Treatment – appointments only
- Youth Friendly Health Services will be offered from Monday to Friday from 14:00 – 16:00
Features of the new facility include:
- Accessibility to people with disabilities
- A pharmacy, wound care and treatment rooms
- Areas for the treatment of infectious diseases
- Waiting area with an open plan design, including a pharmacy area, reception area, help desk, and administration offices
- A play area for children
‘As part of the City’s enhancement of primary healthcare, we have launched an IT modernisation project and introduced an electronic appointment system at some City Health facilities. I am glad to announce that the Pelican Park Clinic is one such site. The purpose of the appointment system is to reduce long queues and waiting times at clinics. We appeal to the community to utilise the appointment system. Sick children and sick adults do not require an appointment to access care,’ said Mayco Member for Community Services and Health, Cllr Zahid Badroodien.
To schedule an appointment, one can contact Pelican Park CDC on 021 814 1219 or visit the facility in person.
The building also meets ‘green building’ standards with a number of green elements, such as intelligent lighting, reuse of water for irrigation, and low-maintenance finishes including face-brick and aluminum windows, PVC gutters and drainpipes, and a tiled roof. The completion of the project is a milestone for the City and we are confident that the staff here will serve the community with commitment.