|
UN sends doctors to Limpopo
28/09/2006 12:30 - (SA)
Polokwane - The UN has sent 16 doctors to help address staff shortages in Limpopo.
The UN Volunteer (UNV) doctors will be deployed to hospitals once they have been briefed about the situation in the province.
"The doctors will assist with the efficient delivery of health services in the province," said department of health and social development spokesperson, Phuti Seloba.
Currently, Limpopo is short 6 000 doctors and has less than 500 to attend to more than 17m patients, including repeat visits, per year.
Seloba said the department would receive seven more doctors in October.
"We will renew our agreement with the doctors every year. The aim is to try convince them to be permanently based in the province and pass on their skills to other colleagues," he said.
The department is spending R28m for the 2006/7 financial year on 1 000 bursaries for health professionals. "We expect about 130 of the students to graduate at the end of this year and come back and work in our hospitals and clinics," said Seloba.
The department will spend a further R49m on its hospital revitalisation project.
"Doctors need equipment and proper surroundings to be able to deliver services to the people and the revitalisation project will do this," said Seloba.
The department also has a programme to build soccer grounds and small entertainment areas close to the doctors' and nurses' accommodation.
- African Eye
|
News
