Northern Cape Department of Health

The Northern Cape is located in the central and western part of South Africa. A sparsely populated region, it includes the Kalahari desert, the Karoo, the Namakwa flower region, and Kimberley's Big Hole diamond mine from 1900. Covering an area 1.5 times bigger than the United Kingdom (little bigger than Germany), the Northern Cape represents 30% of South Africa's land mass. Yet with a population of 1,125,900, it accommodates just 2% of the total South African population. The province's vast distances between settlements and towns, the sparsely populated rural areas, the impact of poverty, and the health challenges of communicable disease, non-communicable disease and trauma, make the Northern Cape a very special place to live and work. The priorities of the Northern Cape Department of Health are: 1. Strengthen governance and management of the District Health Services 2. Promote health lifestyles in communities 3. Reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity 4. Improve the financial management systems 5. Increase the number of revitalisation (modernisation) facilities 6. Provide comprehensive care, management and treatment of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB 7. Provide a comprehensive forensic medical service 8. Improve human resource planning, development and management 9. Strengthen research and information management 10. Improve the quality of care 11. Improve the management of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The overall vision of the Northern Cape Department of Health is "Health service excellence for all."