UNIONDALE NEWS FLASH - Yesterday's unveiling of the renovated clinic in Uniondale was part of the more than R100-million spent on health care facilities in the Southern Cape.

The Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, officially unveiled the renovated clinic in the presence of Uniondale residents, Eden councilors and Government Health officials.

The renovations at the clinic was prioritised after Botha visited the clinic in May 2012 and asked the department to attend to the needs as a matter of urgency.

In his address to about 100 guests Botha thanked the community for their patience during the revamp which cost R650 000. The renovations included an enlarged reception area, an additional consulting room, a separate pharmacy and a new fence. New floor coverings, extractor fans and air conditioners were also fitted.

The clinic attends to the primary health care needs of about 1 600 patients per month. The burden of disease is mostly hypertension, asthma, HIV and TB. Doctors from George Hospital visit Uniondale patients on an appointment basis. Uniondale also has a small 13-bed hospital with a maternity unit.


At the ribbon cutting to inaugurate the Uniondale Clinic's renovations, from left: Dr Helise Schumann (director: Eden and Central Karoo Districts), Anneke du Preez (assistant manager: Medical Services, Uniondale), Henry McCombi (chairperson of Eden District Health Council), Theuns Botha (Western Cape Minister of Health), Marius Swart (member of Parliament), Marchell Kleynhans (portfolio councillor: George Municipality), Charles Standers (George mayor), Godfrey Louw (Eden District municipal manager), Daniël Maritz (George deputy mayor) and Nuruh Davids (quality assurance: district office).

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