By: Sbahle Ngcobo

South Africa has made strides in improving maternal and child healthcare.

The Department of health has improved the national health system and enhanced its efforts to reduce sickness and unhealthy conditions for citizens.

Government has regulated costs to make healthcare affordable to all citizens. HIV treatment, testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmissions seem to be proving effective. The Public and Private sector are highly specialised and hi-tech health services are available. The state has offered the free most basic primary health-care in health facilities.

Nokwanda Mbuce ,a  20- year- old medical student at Nelson Mandela  Medical School (UKZN) from KwaNdengezi said since 1994 more clinics have been built and more medicine for sick people had been made available in the country.

“The government has reduced the transmission of HIV and AIDS by implementing the new fixed dose combination (FDC) drug and Neverapine in order to protect the unborn child from being infected,” said Mbuce.

The South African government is strengthening the fight against HIV and TB. It has improved the human resource management at state hospitals and strengthened  co-ordination between the public and private health sector.

There has been implementation of health care systems which will cover for all South Africans. Government is responding well with a far-reaching reform plan to revatilise and restructure the South African health care system.
Phumlani Ngubo, A teacher at Ndengetho high said “Healthcare in South Africa is now highly specialized.

There are more health services in both public and private sectors. Since 1994 more than 1600 clinics have been built. Many resources have been allocated to our clinics and they are very helpful to the patients.”

It is clear that many people noticed the improvements of health since democracy and the South African government is really taking care of the fight against diseases that are killing the nation- HIV and TB.The government has deployed health teams to communities and schools.

The Department of health holds overall responsibility for healthcare with specific responsibility for the public and private sector.

South Africa can now deal with their health issues in the appropriate way.