Wits Rural Health

We kicked off our FIRST Health Advocate training in Nqeleni! 33 community members learnt about their right to health and how they can use social audits as a means of advocating for improved WASH services in their clinics + hospitals @SECTION27news @PublicHealthSA @SpotlightNSP

A key feature of social audits is developing appropriate questionnaires to audit the quality of government services - a participatory process actively involving communities. This is what communities in Nqeleni want to know about the state of WASH in their clinics + hospitals

Todays's opening address of the #RHC2018 at 2pm is by @pacasamedia Nwabisa Mgobozi - Defining the problem: Experiences of a Young Clinician. #clinicalassociatesmatter @russ421 @nabzsuj @KaressaGov @TuksRuralHealth @WitsRHC @iandcouper @HealtheNews @POHF_SA @ruraldentistSA

‘See the person beyond the condition’ Maryke Bezuidenhout #RHC2018 @iandcouper @russ421 @KaressaGov @WitsRHC @TuksRuralHealth @TAC

‘Average Rural child with CP gets 4-5 hrs of therapy per year’ Maryke Bezuidenhout. @TuksRuralHealth @WitsRHC @UKZNCHS @iandcouper @gaedebm @SECTION27news @UCTHealthSci

‘We must talk about adequate and equitable health access for rural populations especially within the NHI‘ Marije Versteeg-Mojanaga #RHC2018 @iandcouper @gaedebm @KaressaGov @russ421 @TuksRuralHealth @WitsRHC

#HealthForAll PHM-SA Statement on National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill phm-sa.org/press-statement-o… @Kegakilweg @Nmphothulo @Bhekisisa_MG @HealtheNews @HealthZA @SpotlightNSP @SPII1

Finally the NHI BILL is here . Sadly the NHI is a panacea for our current Health System Challenges . The next phase of the NHI (2018-2022) will focus on the enabling legislation such as the NHI fund Continuation of health system strengthening initiatives

How will the interim fund for priority populations work in rural areas where public facilities are the only providers . What plans are in place to support alternative service delivery in rural areas . #NHIBill

The NHI FUND will be an independent not for profit entity overseen by an independent board .In the interim the work will be supported by technical committees appointed by the minister . Its been 9 months since the call for applications . The minister is yet to appoint members

PHC including general practitioners is the entry point for health care . In rural communities PHC is so poorly resourced that patients opt to higher levels of care . Health System Strengthening must consider the resource gaps in rural phc #NHI BILL

The result for rural communities is that public sector facilities will be their principle providers. The obvious risk is that current system challenges are just moved to a new financing scheme . It is essential that we prioritise the strengthening of rural health systems#NHIBill