One of the main functions of the council, appointed by the provincial minister for health, is to promote co-operative governance and to help ensure co-ordination of planning, budgeting and monitoring of health services that affect residents in the district. The Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, encourages patients to take up matters in their area with a member of the District Health Council.
"These council members discuss concerns and try and resolve concerns according to the specific needs of the region. Eden poses different health challenges than the West Coast, as an example."
A district health council consists of:
• A person appointed by the provincial minister to represent him.
• A member of the relevant district council, who will also be the chair.
• A member of the council of each local municipality, nominated by the members of the relevant council.
• Not more than five other persons, appointed by the provincial minister, after consultation with the district council.
District councils feed their inputs to the provincial health council, which is composed of the chairpersons of the six district councils and chaired by the provincial minister. People of Eden are encouraged to make use of this structure to communicate their health needs through the various members of the council.
Back: Mr Neville de Waal (Bitou community), Cllr Richard Dawson (Knysna Municipality), secretariat Dr Terence Marshall, Mr Jonathan Jantjies (Van Wyksdorp community), Cllr Hyrin Ruiters (Kannaland Municipality). Front: Ms Ansie Sunshine (George community), Henry Mcombi (Chairperson Eden District Municipality) and Dr Schumann (Eden District Manager). INSERT: Cllr Joan Prins (Hessequa Municipality), Jeremia Goliath (Oudtshoorn Municipality) and Cllr Flip du Plessis (Mossel Bay Municipality).
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