Latest news with #GautengDepartmentofHealth
The Citizen
an hour ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Protect your child against diseases with immunisation, says health department
Protect your child against diseases with immunisation, says health department Residents are urged by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) to immunise their children as Tshwane records a 76.6% immunisation rate. The stat comes after the recent data from the department, which shows that 213 389 children under the age of one year were fully vaccinated during the 2024/25 financial year. This translates to 82.3% coverage, which falls short of the provincial target of 90%. Similarly, only 78.4% of children received their second dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, well below the 92% target. As mentioned, Tshwane's rate stands at 76.6%, the Sedibeng District recorded a 98% full immunisation under one year, and 96.1% MR second dose coverage. Provincial Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said that protecting children from preventable diseases is part of upholding their right to health. 'Failing to complete a child's immunisation schedule is not just a medical oversight; it is a silent threat to their well-being and a subtle form of neglect. We must all recommit to protecting the rights of our children by ensuring they receive every scheduled vaccine on time because a healthy child is a protected child,' Nkomo-Ralehoko said. Immunisation is an intervention that protects children against life-threatening infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B. The GDoH said immunisation services are freely available at all public health facilities in Gauteng, but not enough children are completing their vaccination schedules, putting them at risk. The department has also identified poor adherence to follow-up appointments as one of the contributing factors to underperformance in certain districts. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to visit their nearest clinic or mobile outreach point to check their child's immunisation status and catch up on any missed vaccines. ALSO READ: Collect your June SASSA grants from tomorrow Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Gauteng Health gets R100m boost to fix hospital equipment and laundry services
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has welcomed the injection of much-needed financial resources to help it tackle the ongoing challenges posed by ageing machinery and critical equipment across hospitals, particularly in laundry services, which requires an overhaul. Currently, Bheki Mlangeni Hospital, which relies on laundry services from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, has a backlog due to challenges with its machinery. In the meantime, Dunswart Laundries is assisting with the existing backlog to ensure that patient care is not compromised. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health adjusts tariffs for patients In response to these pressing concerns, the GDoH has been allocated R100 million by the National Department of Health for the 2025/26 financial year to support its recapitalisation programme, which aims to refurbish and replace outdated critical equipment and machinery in hospitals. Out of this amount, R50m is specifically set aside to address laundry machinery challenges across hospitals in the province. 'As part of this initiative, an assessment of the current equipment and machinery has been conducted to determine which machines require refurbishing and which ones need to be replaced. 'This evaluation will enable us to address the needs of facilities more effectively. To date, work has already commenced with the refurbishment of theatres at Carletonville and Bheki Mlangeni hospitals. 'This will be extended to all facilities in need,' explains Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health aims to oust ghost employees 'Due to the frequent breakdown of laundry machinery, the operational inefficiency in some hospitals is negatively affected, despite efforts to maintain and repair the machines. Already, the laundromat has processed laundry badges from Bheki Mlangeni Hospital, and some are queued to be processed overnight. Additionally, the hospital management is exploring options to outsource laundry services to address this issue further temporarily.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Weskoppies Hospital remains fully operational despite power cut, says Gauteng Health
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has confirmed that Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital remains fully operational and that patient care has not been compromised, despite the disconnection of electricity at the facility by the City of Tshwane on Monday. According to the department, the power cut occurred while a payment of R1.2 million for March and April electricity consumption was already being processed. The delay in settling the account has been attributed to the transition into the new financial year. 'The hospital normally makes additional payments to ensure continuous electricity supply, however, this time around it could not do so,' said the Gauteng health spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, adding that the outstanding amount is currently in the payment process. In the meantime, the facility has remained functional through the use of five backup generators and a solar power system. 'We want to assure the public again that the backup power supply system, which includes five generators and a solar system at Weskoppies, is fully operational, and patient care will continue uninterrupted while the normal electricity supply is being reconnected,' said Modiba. The department also highlighted that, on the same day as the power disconnection, it had already paid R3.8 million to the City of Tshwane in relation to other healthcare facilities in the municipality.
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Health
- Eyewitness News
GDoH says plans in place to ensure health facilities are unaffected by Rand Water maintenance
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) says it has contingency plans in place to ensure public health facilities are not affected by Rand Water's infrastructure maintenance. The water utility on Thursday began its planned maintenance, which is set to finish next Monday. Residents have been warned that several areas in the Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metros will experience low pressure to no running water. The department said, amongst other contingency plans, municipalities will help in dispatching water tankers to the affected health facilities in the three districts. "As part of these measures, most of our facilities, if they are a clinic, they'll have JoJo tank, in hospitals, they will have boreholes and reservoirs that can at least supply or store water for a couple of days. We have also put in other measures to augment that supply through outsourcing additional water supply," said Gauteng Health spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Gauteng health urges parents to take children for immunisation
Children are vaccinated according to the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule, from birth to 12 years old. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is urging parents, caregivers, and communities to ensure children are fully immunised. It warned that failure to do so places young lives at risk and undermines their right to a healthy life. This call coincides with South Africa's observance of National Child Protection Week, from 29 May to 5 June 2025. The department on Thursday emphasised that protecting children from preventable diseases is a vital part of honouring their constitutional right to life, health, and dignity. Alarming drop in vaccination rates Despite immunisation services being freely available at all public health facilities in the province, coverage remains below target. According to departmental data, only 82.3% of children under the age of one were fully vaccinated in the 2024/25 financial year, short of the 90% target. The second dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine recorded an even lower uptake at 78.4%, against the provincial goal of 92%. 'Failing to complete a child's immunisation schedule is not just a medical oversight, it is a silent threat to their well-being, and a subtle form of neglect,' said Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. ALSO READ: Spike in foodborne illness prompts Gauteng crackdown on non-compliant establishments, says health MEC Sedibeng district leading The department highlighted disparities in coverage across districts. Sedibeng is leading the way, achieving 98% full immunisation for children under one and 96.1% for the MR second dose. However, metropolitan districts such as Tshwane (76.6%), Ekurhuleni (78.6%), and Johannesburg (85%) continue to underperform. One of the contributing factors is poor adherence to follow-up vaccination appointments. The GDoH said it will strengthen public awareness on the importance of completing vaccination schedules and implement coordinated school holiday campaigns, working with Integrated School Health Programme (ISH) teams and outbreak response units. ALSO READ: Gauteng health warns of 'silent killer' 'Immunisation is a right, not a choice' Children are vaccinated according to the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule, from birth to 12 years old. Each vaccine visit is recorded in the Road to Health Booklet, which parents must present at every clinic appointment. The department is also intensifying efforts to track children who missed routine vaccines, particularly in underserved areas, and will continue to offer outreach services to close these gaps. 'This Child Protection Week, we must all recommit to protecting the rights of our children by ensuring they receive every scheduled vaccine on time, because a healthy child is a protected child,' Nkomo-Ralehoko said. GDoH reminded parents that ensuring a child is fully immunised is not only a health responsibility, but also a moral and legal obligation under South Africa's child protection laws. NOW READ: Health minister defends nearly R10 million legal spend on NHI court battles
