MP Applauds Government on health bill
By Delisa Magagula
Matsanjeni South Member of Parliament Sabelo Ndlangamandla has applauded government for introducing the new Health Bill currently under discussion in Parliament, saying it is a crucial step towards addressing the challenges facing the country’s health sector.
He was speaking during the health outreach programme hosted by the Taiwan Embassy in the area. Over 400 people were treated on the day.
Ndlangamandla said the Bill, which seeks to strengthen governance, reduce corruption, and improve service delivery, had the potential to ease the strain faced by rural communities.
“The Bill is a good move by government. If implemented properly, it will bring much-needed relief to people in remote areas who struggle daily to access healthcare,” he said.
The MP pointed out that Matsanjeni is a vast constituency with only one health facility, the Matsanjeni Health Centre, which serves more than five Tinkhundla. He said the centre was often overwhelmed and could not meet the demand.
“This is why many of our people are forced to travel across the border to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to get medical care at Itshelejuba Hospital. The need is so dire that cross-border healthcare has become part of our reality,” he explained.
Ndlangamandla further commended Taiwan for recently bringing medical outreach services to his constituency, describing it as an example of the kind of support communities desperately need.
“It was one of a kind because healthcare came to the people. Residents were able to get checked, treated, and even receive medication without having to travel long distances. This shows what is possible when services are decentralised,” he said.
He added that if it were up to him, local health facilities would operate on a 24-hour basis to meet the overwhelming demand.