25 April 2005

By Clifford Mogotsi

LERATONG Hospital is going from strength to strength when it comes to providing health care for Mogale City's residents.

Building links between the hospital and the community: (from left to right) board members Simon Molefe and Stan Klaas, hospital CEO Barbara Wojtowicz, deputy director of administration Grey Dube, and deputy director of nursing Margaret Khosa

Over the past three years the hospital has won several awards and the Gauteng Accreditation Committee, set up to evaluate the services offered in provincial hospitals, has acknowledged Leratong's achievements.

"Our hospital has surpassed expectations and is accredited for the good service we offer to our people," says Margaret Khosa, the deputy director of nursing.

The institution has dealt with complaints from patients and residents, largely thanks to the efforts of the hospital board, which was set up to ensure community representation at the clinic. Six community representatives sit on the board; they ensure the Patients' Charter is properly implemented and investigate complaints.

Board member Simon Molefe, who represents the youth, sees public participation as crucial. The board's mission is to develop a healthy, friendly relationship between the community and the institution. "We are trying to build support within the community we are serving."

Much has been achieved already, yet Molefe says the board is not going to sit back. One of the issues that still needs to be solved is the length of time casualty patients wait for medical care. "These are the sorts of issues we are currently dealing with."

Mogale City Municipality's ward committees are one of the avenues the hospital uses to communicate with the community it serves. The ward committees are co-ordinated by Peter Kute, who praises the work the hospital is doing involving the community.

Stan Klaas, a hospital board member, says, "Kute understands the wards better that we do, which makes him the appropriate channel to communicate with the communities."

The board also raises funds for projects aimed at improving health awareness, focusing on tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, mental health and children's day. So important are children to the hospital that in 2003 it won an award from the province for its "baby friendly" approach.

Other tasks the board intends to tackle are strengthening committees in local clinics and setting up a range of educational programmes. The board members are Stan Klaas, Simon Molefe, Jethro Tshabalala, Solly Motlanthe, Hippo Letseleha and Sakkie Horn.

Health institutions

The Directorate of Community Services

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