The Personal Health Branch is responsible for curative, preventive and promotive primary health care services.
There are 20 clinics which offer integrated, comprehensive services and one infectious diseases hospital.
The branch also runs STI and Reproductive Health/Family Planning Training Units.
Functions
The functions of the branches are as follows:
1. Outpatient Care 2. Maternity Care 3. Child and Adolescent Health care 4. Prevention of Parent to child Transmission of HIV 5. Co-ordination of Community Participation for Health Initiatives.
1. Outpatient Care
This aspect of clinic services comprises of the convention curative services, such as management of minor ailments and injuries, dental care, management of patient with chronic conditions and mental ill-health.
Two most important public health concerns of today are case finding and case holding of patient with tuberculosis and management and counseling of patient and their partners with sexually transmitted infections and HIV. These groups of patients are attended to at all clinics and the most modern approaches, such as DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy, Short Course) and syndromic STI management, and applied.
2. Maternity Care
This includes various pregnancy related services, such as ante-natal care, care of delivery and post-natal care. Deliveries are conducted in four clinics. Family planning services, including voluntary surgical contraception performed in a day surgery unit and hormonal implant method, are also available.
3. Child and Adolescent Health Care
Immunizations, growth monitoring, encouragement of breast feeding, advice on child nutrition and screen for neurodevelopment abnormalities in childhood are provided in the clinics. The immunization programme provides children with vaccines against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and hepatitis B.
The department has recognized the need for social attention in providing health services, and reproductive health services in particular, to adolescent. All clinics have special trained nurses who are able to attend to youth in a friendly and non-judgmental manner.
4. Nkulumane Clinic New Start Centre
This unit was opened in April 2000. It is manned by two trained counselors who provide voluntary HIV counseling and testing services for a nominal fee. Its patronage has been satisfactory and is expected to improve further as appreciation about the advantages of knowing one's HIV status spread.
5. Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV at eighteen Clinics
This is a new service which provides pregnant women and their spouses with pre and post-test HIV counseling and anti-retroviral drugs. Advice on infant feeding options is also given and infants, mothers and families are followed up. Rapid HIV testing is available at these clinics.
6. Co-ordination of Community Participation for Health Initiatives
The department works closely with councilors, community leaders, district and Ward Aids Action Committees, churches and residents on health and related matters.
Service Level
Service / Service Product | Service Level Standards | Location |
---|---|---|
Diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) |
Monday – Friday 0730 - 1530 hours Saturdays 0730 - 1130 hours |
All council clinics |
Admission of very ill patients with TB | 24 hours | Thorngrove hospital |
Admission of patients with infectious diseases | 24 hours | Thorngrove hospital |
Provider initiated testing and counseling for HIV (PITC) |
Monday – Friday 0730 - 1530 hours Saturdays 0730 - 1130 hours |
All clinics and thorngrove hospital |
Initiation of anti – retroviral therapy for patients with CD4 count of 350 and below | Weekly | Mzilikazi, entumbane, emakhandeni, luveve, pelandaba, nketa, nkulumane, khami road clinic, magwegwe clinics |
Oi/ art follow up | Daily | Above clinics plus northern suburbs, pumula and maqhawe clinics |
OI/ art follow up sites for paediatrics reffered from Mpilo Hospital . these children are initiated on art at Mpilo hospital | Weekly | Pelandaba, pumula, luveve and maqhawe clinics |
Treatment of minor ailments |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturday 0730 -1130 hours |
All clinics |
Family planning services |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturday 0730 – 1130 hours |
All clinics |
Ante-natal care and post natal care |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturdays 0730 -1130 hours |
All clinics except khami road clinic |
Deliveries | 24 hours | Northern suburbs, luveve, pelandaba and nkulumane clinics |
Prevention of mother to child transmission of hiv (PMTCT) for expecting mothers and partners |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturday 0730 – 1130 hours |
All clinics |
Vaccination of children under five years and women of child bearing age |
Monday – Friday 0730 -1530 hours Saturdays 0730 - 1130 hours |
All clinics except khami road clinic |
Monitoring of growth and development of children below 5 years |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturdays 0730 – 1130 hours |
All clinics except khami road clinic |
Voluntary testing and counseling (VCT) |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturday 0730 -1130 hours |
Nkulumane clinic |
Dental services i.e dental examinations and tooth extractions |
Monday – Friday 0730 – 1530 hours Saturdays 0730 – 1130 hours |
Pelandaba clinic |