Almost half of babies born in the OR Tambo region of the Eastern Cape die during birth. These tragic facts are contained in the latest report on Child Mortality and Infection Control in the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. The Department made presented their case to the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health. Apart from the 430 deaths per 1000 in the OR Tambo region, the Eastern Cape’s average overall death rate was 38 deaths per 1000 live births. Compared with the national figure of 18 deaths per 1000 live births, these statistics are shocking, sad and simply unacceptable.
Archive for the ‘Pine Pienaar’ Category
SHOCK REPORT ON BABY DEATHS IN EASTERN CAPE
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
ONLY HEALTH SG TURNS UP TO REPORT ON BABY DEATHS
Thursday, August 12th, 2010Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health was yesterday furious at the Eastern Cape Department of Health for failing to send a full team of officials to deliver a report on baby deaths at the Mthatha Hospital Complex.
Others were less sympathetic to Pillay, particularly opposition parties. “He doesn’t allow anyone else to speak for the department, even refusing to allow directors to answer questions on their own departments,” Democratic Alliance’s Pine Pienaar said. Read the full story in the Daily Dispatch.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TO GET BASICS RIGHT FIRST OF ALL
Monday, August 9th, 2010THE financial woes of the beleaguered Eastern Cape Department of Health and its latest plan to request a bail-out of R1,7-billion from the provincial executive refers, writes Pine Pienaar.
The Democratic Alliance warned the House during sitting in December that the department would run into more difficulties early in the new financial year. Read the full letter in the Weekend Post.
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY: IQP 30 OF 2010
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010*1. Mr D B Haddon to ask the Premier:
(1) Whether any provincial departments either paid for or received Fifa 2010 soccer tickets by means of taxpayers’ money; if so, (a) how many tickets did they receive and (b) what is the total monetary value of these tickets;
(2) whether she will be instituting any disciplinary action against defaulting departments and officials in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
BAIL-OUT MONEY FOR HEALTH MUST BE RING-FENCED
Thursday, July 29th, 2010The financial woes of the beleaguered Eastern Cape Department of Health and its latest plan to request a bail-out of R1, 7 billion from the provincial executive refers.
The Democratic Alliance warned the house during sitting in December that the department would run into more difficulties early in the new financial year due to payments of some R700 million for Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD), back-pay in terms of the HROPT and outstanding accruals from the previous year. The cash crunch in the department has caused problems which affects the poorest, who cannot afford private medical care, like clinics running short of the most basic supplies like headache tablets. Late transfers to provincial hospitals have been causing practical difficulties such as a shortage of food for patients and telephones being cut. Sadly some entrepreneurs have been so badly affected by late- and non-payments by the department that they have closed their businesses.
For this reason the DA did not support the provincial budget that was passed in June, because it was clear that the figures had no integrity.
If any funding is given to the department, that money must be ring-fenced for the basics such as food and enough medical supplies. If this is not done the ripple effect can only become more severe. For instance if a TB patient skips his medication, chances are that he will develop drug resistant TB, which comes with its own set of problems and additional costs.
Under no circumstances must the money be used for new ventures by the department. Get the basic rights and put people first.
This department can learn from the success of the Soccer World Cup: the success of the event was thanks to the right people being appointed to do the right tasks. These people were able and competent to make decisions and deliver on time. That is what we need in the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape.
Pine Pienaar
DA spokesperson for Health
Bhisho Legislature
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY: IQP 29 OF 2010
Friday, July 16th, 2010242. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport:
(1) Whether any departmental funding had been disbursed to community policing forums in the country as at the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, why not; if so, (a) what amounts and (b) to which specified cluster forums;
(2) whether any guidelines and systems have been put in place to deal with the spending of these funds; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
HOW TO SAVE A WONDERFUL TRADITION
Thursday, July 15th, 2010NELSON Mandela Bay hardly ever experiences deaths of initiates as a result of botched circumcisions, but scores die every summer and winter season in Pondoland.
DA provincial health spokesman Pine Pienaar said the tradition had become “diluted” over the years because of a lack of parental involvement as well as monitoring by traditional leaders. Read the full story in The Herald.
LIVES LOST ON DEATH TRAP R56: MEC MUST ACT
Thursday, July 15th, 2010The Democratic Alliance has learned with horror that four motorists lost their lives allegedly as result of large potholes in the road.
The incident occurred on the R56 between Matatiele and Cedarville. What makes this all the more shocking is the fact that it is alleged by members of the community that numerous massive potholes on the R56 had been cleared to be filled, but this was never done.
HEALTH OFFICIALS BLAME WC FOR VITAL VACCINE SHORTAGES
Thursday, July 15th, 2010A CRITICAL shortage of immunisations and TB medicines is crippling primary healthcare clinic services in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Cacadu District.
DA health spokesperson Pine Pienaar said the party had learned with concern that since facilities became State-funded no payments had been made to the hospital and the medical supplies were running low. Read the full story in the Daily Dispatch.
SIX SENIOR HEALTH OFFICALS SACKED
Friday, July 9th, 2010THE Health Department has fired six senior officials after an exposé by the Daily Dispatch two years ago revealed that a R180000 unauthorised private flight of an air ambulance had taken officials to watch a Confederations Cup soccer match in Bloemfontein.
The Democratic Alliance’s health spokesperson Pine Pienaar welcomed the action by the department. “We urge them to recover the money from the guilty parties as well.” Read the full story in the Daily Dispatch.
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