The City of Cape Town’s Health Department today opened five new overflow facilities at various clinics, to increase capacity and ensure adequate social distancing as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facilities are at the following clinics: Elsies River (pictured), St. Vincent in Belhar, Albow Gardens in Milnerton, Bloekomboss and Wallacedene.
Fifteen additional overflow facilities will be opened in the coming weeks, and by the end of the project, at least 80 clinics will have been retrofitted as part of our COVID-19 preparedness plan to the value of R70 million. With this investment, an additional 153 examination and treatment rooms will be opened with access to all the necessary resources which are required to deliver the health service.
The additional 15 facilities are at Gugulethu, Manenberg, Kuyasa Clinic, Matthew Goniwe and Luvuyo Clinics, Nolungile Clinic, Dr. Ivan Toms Clinic, Ikhwezi Clinic, Hout Bay, Langa, Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Phumlani, Tafelsig and Weltevreden Valley Clinic.
As indicated before, the establishment of overflow facilities was necessitated to ensure social distancing and to prioritise COVID-19 related cases, while at the same time ensuring that general service delivery continues.
The latter is particularly critical, as we have noticed a definite downturn in the number of clients accessing primary healthcare services, particularly for child immunisations.
With the establishment of the overflow facilities, City Health will be able to further improve the existing COVID-19 protocols that have already been introduced thus far, and divide their attention equitably between clients requiring assistance for the virus and others who need to access other services in our primary healthcare basket.
The City therefore reiterates its earlier calls to clients to please honour their appointments for medical checks for chronic conditions and to collect medication where it is not delivered to them.
It is also crucial for our residents to continue being screened for conditions such as HIV, TB, Hypertension and Diabetes, as pre-existing conditions have proven to cause complications where persons test positive for COVID-19.
The sooner you are screened or tested, and a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin.
However, while the COVID pandemic is our current priority, we are also concerned about losing sight of the other health concerns that pose serious risks to the health and wellbeing of our communities if not addressed.
So we urge residents to please continue visiting the clinic if need be, and to remember to:
- make an appointment for preventative health services
- keep the appointment and arrive 15 minutes earlier
- expect to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms on arrival
- ensure that only the person(s) n need of the service attends
- wear a mask
- adhere to social distancing
- stay at home if they are not well on the day of their appointment and inform the clinic that they are unable to attend