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22 September 2008

What: An older persons event
When: Saturday, 27 September 2008, 09h30
Where: Nelson Mandela Hall, Uniqwa, Qwaqwa, Thabo Mofutsanyana

The Department of Health introduced a rotating Geriatrics Programme Trophy in 2002. This trophy is awarded annually to the province that displays the best performance.

The process of identifying the best province is based on the assessment of the progress of each province for the specific year with regards to the geriatrics programme. Different challenges such as rural or urban areas and number of clinics are also taken into consideration.

The Free State province is the province that displays the best performance measured on the basis of the following criteria:
* Effective responses from the province when information or input was needed especially input in draft guidelines.
* Efforts of the province to ensure availability and implementation of National Guidelines on Older Persons at healthcare facilities and old age homes.

Implementation of guidelines:
* Under the leadership of the provincial programme co-ordinator for geriatrics, the province strives to implement the long-term home oxygen programme effectively and addresses challenges in a pro-active manner.
* Collaboration with social development, especially on provincial level.
* Training applicable to geriatrics.
* Efforts to include health professionals of Old Age Homes.
* Provincial visit.
* Organisation of the visits.
* Inclusion of relevant role-players to address challenges, such as a pulmonologist and medical officers for the long-term home-oxygen programme.
* The efforts to solve problems identified during the provincial visits.

The Free State also hosted the Annual Symposium of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000 to 2010 in 2007. The provincial programme co-ordinator for geriatrics was a member of the organising committee and chaired one of the sessions.

Awarding the rotating Geriatrics Programme Trophy to the Free State will give national department the chance to acknowledge the Free State's dedication and hard work towards older persons.

The Free State has again won the National Cataract Surgery Rate (CSR) trophy by reaching and exceeding the target for 2007: 3 065 cataract operations done. The national target for 2007 was 1 400 surgeries for 1 000 000 of the population of the province. The Free State was first with a rate of 1 591 surgeries for 1 000 000 of the population. The Free State also won the trophy in 2004 and 2005.

How:

The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will address the communities of Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality in Qwa-Qwa, Free State province on 27 September where she will hand over the rotating Geriatrics Trophy and the Cataract Trophy to the Free State.

The Ninister will also sign a pledge and participate in a health walk with older persons as well as hand over a trophy.

The Ninister will also present ten wheelchairs, walking sticks, walking aids rubbers and hearing aids and five pairs of spectacles to older persons.

The eyecare team will also be conducting screening and referral to Manapo Hospital.

Informal (draft) programme:

Entertainment: Teboho and Friends
Aerobics: By older people

Formal (Draft) programme:

Programme Director: Mr MJ Tsebela
Opening Prayer: Rev MD Kambule
Welcoming: Dr BE Mzangwa, Executive Mayor
Introduction of Guests: HOD/MEC: Health
Aerobics: By older people
Message of Support: Ms TD Sekhoane
Introduction of the Minister: Premier or MEC
Keynote Address: Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Signing of the Pledge: Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
Handing over of Wheelchairs: Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala Msimang
Vote of thanks: MEC/HOD

RSVP before Friday, 26 September 12h00 to:
Siziwe Komanisi
Fax: 051 408 1579
E-mail: komanisis@fshealth.gov.za

Enquiries:
Elke De Witt
Cell: 083 561 6517

Gela Van Heerden
Tel: 051 408 1278
Fax: 051 408 1055
Cell: 082 381 9483
E-mail: vheerdenep@fshealth.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
22 September 2008