Speech by KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo on the occasion of the official
opening of the LIV HEALTH CARE CENTRE in the village square, 12 June 2014
Programme Director
NLB Chairperson - Prof Alfred Nevhutanda
Tich Smith - founder of LIV
Joan Smith - Co-founder of Lungisisa Indlela Village
Beautiful children of the Village
It is a pleasure to again visit this bastion of hope created to accommodate
around 150 children who come from different backgrounds but have one feature in
common; that of either being orphaned; neglected or abused.
Time and again, it has been said that in Africa and in the African culture;
there is no orphan as children are supposed to be a responsibility of all the
adults in the community.
Today the very existence of this facility nullifies all that as we know that the
Department of Social Development and the Courts of Law have taken upon
themselves to protect and refer those young ones who are experiencing all forms
of neglect into this Village.
When I first came here I marvelled at the beautiful setting of this Village and
appreciated that our young ones are nurtured in a very soothing and refreshing
environment that gives them a gaze to the deep blue sea; the spectacular
Hazelmere dam and the never ending rolling green hills of Ndwedwe. The setting
is indeed therapeutic and conducive as a place where these children can get
unconditional love, care and spiritual disciple.
Today, on this second visit, I come bearing the well wishes of our Premier, Hon
Senzo Mchunu, who directed that we greet and thank all the nurses;
psychologists; counsellors; mentors and social workers for the sterling work
being done here. He says you have his support and blessings.
Our coming here also signifies the endorsement your stated vision that seeks to:
‘Bring holistic healing to every child on the village, to restore these broken
lives to full health, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, raise
them up and nurture them into the fullness of what they were destined to be, and
release them into adulthood, with skills and a purpose, to make a positive
contribution in society.’
I shudder when I think what all these kids here have gone through in their young
lives but also get comfort in knowing about the amount of love; care and
understanding that they derive from here.
What you do here allows these children to learn to trust again and regain enough
confidence required for them to rebuild their future and live again. What is
being done here truly reflects what our icon, Tata Nelson Mandela had in mind
when he said:
‘We understand and promote the notion that while children need to be guided they
also have an entrenched right to be whatever they want to be and that they can
achieve this only if they are given the space to dream and live out their
dreams.’
Our special appreciation for all the miracles taking place here unreservedly go
to Joan Smith, co-founder of this Village; Dr Andre Van Niekerk, who is the
consulting Paediatrician and oversees the management and structure of the
clinic; Dr Thinus Van Niekerk, who has a private dental practice in Ballito and
Umhlanga who heads up the Dental Care section; the visiting overseas medical
personnel who volunteer their services here as well as all the personnel that
have made it their duty to be of service to these vulnerable children.
We are also here to express our gratitude and say thank you to the National
Lottery Distribution Trust Fund for providing Lungisisa Indlela Village with the
Health Care Centre.
We are all exited that this centre comes fully equipped with facilities for
nurses, psychologists, counsellors and social workers who will offer
professional services to the children here. We profusely thank National Lottery
for their generosity and a good choice in their selection of entities to be
funded. It indeed does appear that our National Lottery Trust Fund also made use
of President Mandela’s good advice, when he said:
‘Together as a nation, we have an obligation to put sunshine into the hearts of
our little ones. They are our precious possessions. They deserve what happiness
life can offer.’
As the KwaZulu Natal Department of Health, we commit to work with Lungisisa
Indlela Village to ensure that services offered at the Health Care Centre are
all encompassing and of value to all.
Currently, we do appreciate that those who reside here do access health care in
our clinics in Tongaat; Verulem as well as Osindisweni Hospital.
We are also aware that they also make use of our Mobile Clinic that visits the
Cottonlands; but now we are saying, there is no reason why the Mobile Clinic
cannot operate from the Centre to offer the Primary Health Care services to the
children here.
We are also saying we are ready to dispatch our School Health Teams from our
Tongaat CHC to come here with the sole purpose of promoting health and
preventing diseases.
Children who are on chronic medication either for HIV and TB especially those
that are stable, their treatment can be pre-packed from Tongaat CHC or
Osindisweni hospital and delivered here.
We are also ready to dispatch our School Health Team from Tongaat CHC to visit
the LIV School and offer School Health services aimed at identifying and
addressing health barriers to learning through the screening of:
In a nutshell; the KwaZulu Natal Government considers LIV as a partner and is
ready and prepared to work with you in the attainment of your well-meaning motto
of:
Rescue a child, Restore a life, Raise a leader and Release a star.
Again, we say thank you to National Lottery Trust Fund and to all the
progressive professionals and people involved with this Village.
I thank you
Ends
Contact: Desmond Motha on 083 295 3901
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