State-of-the-art health centre for D6

The District Six Community Health Centre, currently still under construction.

The area of District Six will soon see the addition of a new healthcare facility. Known as the District Six Community Health Centre, the facility will see the merging of the Robbie Nurock and Woodstock Day Centres.

Speaking during a visit to the R104 million facility, which is still under construction, Western Cape MEC for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, said: “I am pleased by the progress made in the construction of the facility, to date. I look forward to finally opening the doors of this facility, particularly in an area that holds such significance in the history of this city and the nation.

“This year marks the 50-year commemoration of forced removals from District Six. The progress on this facility is an important milestone in the redevelopment of the community.”

Dr Mbombo, who was joined on the site visit by MEC of Transport and Public Works, Donald Grant, added: “The Western Cape government is committed to delivering quality health services to the people of this province. Modernising and maintaining our health infrastructure is central to delivering on that commitment. When our infrastructure is fit-for-purpose, we are able to provide the quality patient-centred care which the people of this province rely on.”

Luyanda Mfeka, Dr Mbo-mbo’s spokesman, added that the facility “should reach full completion in the early part of next year”.

As to the reasons behind the opening of this facility, Mr Mfeka said: “We wanted to deliver a full comprehensive package and the Robbie Nurock and Woodstock facilities are somewhat outdated. There was a need to expand on the services provided there.”

Once the centre starts to operate, it will provide comprehensive primary health services for approximately 90 000 mainly low- or no-income people from Woodstock, Salt River, Vredehoek and central Cape Town.

The state-of-the-art facility will provide services such as child health services, women’s healthcare (including antenatal and post-natal care), treatment of tuberculosis, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, medical male circumcision, dietetic services, radiography services, and the dispensing of medicine for chronic conditions.

The building’s design will also incorporate a number of green features, including energy-saving lights and motion sensors that switch off lights that are not needed.

Natural ventilation and lighting will also supplement mechanical ventilation and electric lighting. Rainwater will also be harvested to flush toilets and to supplement the supply of water for fire-fighting.

Speaking during the tour, Mr Grant said: “Most of the buildings will comprise a framed concrete structure and a mixture of face brick and painted infill walls, as well as metal roof sheeting on steel trusses.

“Because of space constraints, the centre is a multi-storey building with basement parking. It features a terraced court and roof garden as an interface to a heritage building on the site.”