NHI at work as KZN Health MEC takes services to the poorest of the poor in Mtubatuba

20 November 2019

KZN MEC for Health Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu and the Department’s senior management committee yesterday rolled up their sleeves to experience, first-hand, the day-to-day work of the Ward-Based Primary Health Care Outreach Team (WBPHCOT), and Community Care Givers (CCGs) during a visit to Vezobala and Khiphinkunzi areas of Mtubatuba.

They launched the Department’s brand-new *“Nqonqo – Sikhulekile Ekhaya”* door-to-door programme, which puts emphasis on the ward-based system – as espoused in Government’s new National Health Insurance (NHI) programme - and involves the provision of services at a household and community level.

They split up into six teams - each made up of a doctor, a nurse, and Community Care Giver, among others. They assessed patients; facilitating treatment for chronic and other ailments; identifying and tracing those who default on medication and referring them to hospitals accordingly.

In one household, an elderly woman was found to have severely high blood pressure, and an ambulance was summoned and arrived after just a few minutes to take her to hospital.

The Department, under the sixth administration, has already launched a number of community-based healthcare approaches, including but not limited to #IsibhedlelaKubantu, which brings a comprehensive range of healthcare service to the doorstep of communities who live far from health facilities.

However, there are still many people who are sick, some bedridden, at home and unable to access healthcare services.

They rely solely on these Ward Based Primary Health Care Outreach Teams.

The overall objective of this "Nqonqo - Sikhulekile Ekhaya" initiative - which will take place once a month in various districts - is therefore to improve health outcomes in the Province, by focusing on preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare in an integrated, comprehensive and effective way.