June 13, 2005
By Tabisa Mntengwana
THE choir of tiny tots from the Baby Boom Nursery School sang welcoming songs to the guests, including an enthusiastic rendition of the national anthem, to mark the official opening of the refurbished Crown Gardens clinic.
Johannesburg's mayoral committee member for health, Councillor Prema Naidoo, officially opened the health facility on 10 June. The clinic is part of the City's aim to provide primary health care facilities to all its residents.
Although it has been open since 2000, the building has been extended, and now has three new consulting rooms, ablution facilities and a waiting room for 60 patients.
The original clinic had only one room and was initially open only once a week. Yet nursing staff saw up to 2 000 patients every month.
Now the facility is run by two professional nurses and is open three days a week. "We will add more days once we get enough staff," said clinic manager Solvy Moletsane.
The young choir from the Baby Boom Nursery School sang songs of welcome
The nursing staff are now able to see many more patients a month, ranging from young children to senior citizens. Moletsane was particularly pleased that the clinic would now be able to cater for the older residents of the area.
The clinic runs immunisation programmes and prenatal care. Common illnesses reported to the clinic include diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids. It also runs education programmes and staff hand out information pamphlets.
"As time goes by more services will be added," said Naidoo, "and we hope people will be patient with us in delivering these services."
The official opening of the clinic was used as an excuse for an extensive celebration. Included in the day's festivities was an exhibition for World Environment Day and the presentation of certificates to owners of local crèches and to food traders who underwent courses by Region 9's environmental health services.
Addressing Crown Gardens residents, Naidoo urged the local community to "look after the clinic and report any vandals ... Community participation is of the utmost importance in improving services."
Speaking about World Environment Day, which was on 5 June, Naidoo said, "We need to look closely at bringing back the dignity of the earth by taking good care of it so that future generations may live in a better place."
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