The City of Cape Town’s Health Department is putting the finishing touches to the first 20 overflow facilities at its clinics. At the end of this project, at least 80 clinics will have been retrofitted in keeping with the COVID-19 preparedness plan.

The establishment of overflow facilities was necessitated by the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly the need to ensure social distancing and to prioritise COVID-19 related cases. At the same time, general service delivery to clients also had to continue.

The facilities are either prefabricated structures set up on clinic premises where space has allowed, or community halls, which are in close proximity to the clinics, are used.

The first phase will result in 153 additional consulting and/or treatment spaces across the 20 clinics and it is hoped that these will be operational within the next week or two.

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'The expansion of our facilities will ensure that we are able to continue providing our full basket of services to clients during this time, when so much of the health focus is on our response to the Coronavirus. More space means we are able to attend to all health needs, without crowding our waiting areas and therefore decreasing the risk of transmission.

​​‘And, while we would have to return the community centres to the responsible line department once the pandemic is resolved, the investment in the pre-fabricated structures is a longer-term solution that would assist with expediting services at the facilities where this option will be implemented. It must be noted that not all clinics have the space on site to allow for the setting up of additional structures, which is why we have opted to use community centres as part of our overflow strategy,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

Other measures that have been implemented thus far to manage clients at City clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Continuation of the appointment system to reduce time spent at the clinic
• Fast lane for Family planning, Immunisation, pregnancy test etc.
• Triage and screening of patient at entry points.
• Telephonic contact to recall patients and close contacts of Tuberculosis patients to discuss abnormal sputum, blood results etc.

Services that have been scaled back until further notice include:

• routine weighing of children; only weighing of children attending for immunisation and curative services
• outreaches to educare centres as these facilities are currently closed
• deworming for children older than 2
• male circumcision
• postponement of non-urgent dietetic appointments

‘We have also started dispensing increased medication supplies to chronic patients so that fewer clinic visits are needed. We have even incorporated home deliveries, where possible. All of these measures are in place to improve our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while protecting clients from potential exposure. It is a departure from normal protocols, but we ask that our clients please bear with us during this time and do their bit to ensure that the system we’ve put in place works smoothly. There are likely to be some challenges, but we assure the public that the City is committed to ensuring their health and well-being,’ added Councillor Badroodien.

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