A spacious, modern clinic building recently erected by the Buys community at Mara Buysdorp drew high praise and appreciation from government quarters.

At the festive opening of the Buysdorp clinic building last weekend, departmental representative Nengudza Fhatuwani lauded the Buysdorp community for the good work they have done.

The community, using their own resources designed, funded, built and furnished their impressive community clinic structure at an overall cost of more than R500 000. 

Fhatuwani, the regional acting senior manager for primary health care, delivered the keynote address during the opening of the Buysdorp clinic building last Saturday. He expressed the hope that the structure will eventually be utilized as a fully fledged primary health care facility. In the meantime, he said, the department is committed to supporting the community by making sure that the present monthly mobile clinic visits be increased to weekly visits.

“The South African government is committed to continually improving the lives of people through a transformed health service which is representative, accountable, transparent, efficient and responsive to the needs of all,” he said. Fhatuwani indicated that the structure came at the right time, as the Vhembe District has been chosen as a pilot district for the implementation of the government’s national health insurance and primary health care re-engineering venture.

“The success of these two systems will need active community involvement and participation. There is no doubt that if we have communities and structures similar to these here, the objectives of the department will soon be realized.”

Earlier, Fhatuwani emphasized that access to health care services was not a privilege but a legitimate expectation in a civilized and democratic society. “That is why we have outreach services to communities to complement fully fledged primary health-care facilities. Mobile services, however, are being rendered mostly under trees, which is not convenient during unfavourable weather conditions. Privacy and confidentiality are also being compromised most of the time. Today we celebrate the joint effort made by Buysdorp community leaders to erect a fixed structure for the mobile service.”

He expressed the hope that this partnership between the government and the community will bring many more results in the near future.

In his welcoming address, Buys council member Simeon Buys described the occasion as an unbelievable day. About the project's history he said: “We give thanks to the Lord. We experienced His presence during the entire duration of the project.”

Community leader Mr L Weston said it should be noted that this project was completed by a disadvantaged community, to provide medical care for everybody.

On behalf of the clinic committee, Mr G Lawrence said the clinic building demonstrated what could be achieved when a community worked together.

Among the guests were traditional leaders of the area, representatives of the SAPS and officials and practitioners of the health care fraternity. Senior health care officials involved with the mobile services described the new Buysdorp facility as highly superior to most of their own service points.

The clinic building was designed by the Rev Louis Schnetler, who also officiated at the formal opening ceremony. Makhado municipal councillor M J Gabara attended to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests were all treated afterwards to a sumptuous lunch.