VISION

To establish and maintain a sustainable environment as well as a comprehensive Primary Health Care service to ensure optimal health to all the communities in Potchefstroom.

MISSION

The Department Health and Environmental Services shall co-ordinate and render available, accessible, equitable, affordable, efficient and effective Health and Environmental services through community participation and empowerment in the District of Potchefstroom

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES:
SERVICES AVAILABLE AT CLINICS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER:

The community now has access to a 24-hour service at Boiki Tlhapi Clinic. Provision of 12 professional nurses with midwifery to deliver a comprehensive 24 hour service. Deliveries of babies and management of emergencies are done. This decentralised service approach take the burden off from the hospital.

Counseling is done to all pregnant women regarding the availability and benefits for both the mother and the baby when antiretroviral drugs are taken timeously. Antiretroviral drugs to mothers to prevent transmission of HIV to the baby are available. Mothers on antiretroviral drugs are supplied with formula feeding for at least one year. All clinics of the Municipality are geared to treat opportunistic infections related to HIV/AIDS.

100% of the Professional Nurses managing patients where drugs must be dispensed are licensed in dispensing of drugs.

Antenatal care for low and intermediate risk women, including onsite routine blood testing.

Treatment of common problems and minor ailments during pregnancy.

24 hour labour and delivery service for the low risk women available at Boiki Tlhapi Clinic

Postnatal checks are done at all clinics and include contraception methods.

HOME BASED CARE:

Early identification, admission and referral of AIDS patients, terminally ill and frail people to home based care program. Community members are empowered and supported to take care of their families by utilising and training volunteers from NGO's, FBO's and community health workers. Identified children are assisted and registered with home affairs department. Volunteers within the community are trained in the Healthy Hester Program.

During home visits personnel Identify children, who are not registered,

and refer them to and liaise with home affairs for registration.

Identification of family members above 16 years of age without ID Documents

and referral to home affairs for application of ID documentation.

Identify and refer all disadvantaged people for grants.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:

To render and coordinate available, accessible, equitable efficient and effective environmental health services to all the communities within Potchefstroom. This service delivery includes Air pollution control, Water Pollution control, Food Control, Hygiene control, Pest Control, Public Toilet Facilities and Laboratory Services.

The function of Environmental Health within the municipality is administered as follows and includes:

REFUSE REMOVAL SERVICES:

Rendering of a sustainable domestic refuse removal system in the Residential areas of Potchefstroom. This service includes refuse removal, solid waste disposal and landfill, street cleansing and recycling.

The refuse collection functions of the municipality are administered as follows and include:

Refuse Removal:

Landfill:

Mini Dumping Site:

Street cleaning:

Recycling:

These Services extend to include the municipal area but do not take account of the plot and farm areas that reside within the Jurisdiction of the Provincial Government.

POTCHEFSTOOM IMPLEMENT RECYCLING AT SOURCE PROJECT

With the closure of the old refuse dumping site in November 2004, the Department Health and Environmental Services has to accommodate the 64 waste Harvesters that collected recyclable waste at the old refuse to earn a living by selling recyclable waste.

The permit for the use of the new Felophepa waste disposal site states that no reclaiming of waste is allowed on the new waste disposal site. Therefore the team of waste harvesters had to be relocated to another place away from the Felophepa waste disposal site.

The Department Health and Environmental Services then went out on tender in order to form a close co-operation between R1 in a dustbin and a private company for the recycling of waste in Potchefstroom.

In December 2004 the contract was adjudicated to Pick up Waste in order to form a cc (close corporation) with R1 in a dustbin to collect and sell recyclable waste in Potchefstroom.

On the 23rd February Council took a resolution to enter into a formal contract with Pick up Waste for the supply of Green Poly Propylene bags to the City Council.

Pick up Waste will then distribute the Poly Propylene bags to house holds in Potchefstroom with a request to put all recyclable Items in the Poly Propylene bags and the other non recyclable waste, wet waste for example food etc. in the normal plastic refuse bags or 240 liter wheel bins.

Pick up Waste will remove the recyclable waste in the Poly Propylene bags on the same day that the City Council removes the plastic refuse bags and 240 Liter Wheel bins.

The recyclable waste will then be sorted and sold by Pick up Waste while the non recyclable waste is deposited at the Felophepa waste disposal site.

This will reduce the airspace used at the Felophepa site and will help to extend the lifetime of the dumping site by dumping lesser amounts of waste at the dumping site while at the same time collecting, sorting and reuse recyclable waste and contribute towards minimization of waste and sustainable development. It will also provide an income for the members of Pick up Waste and R1 in a dustbin.

The residents of Potchefstroom are asked to put the following recyclable items into the green poly propylene bags supplied to households:

It is important not to put wet waste or garden refuse in the poly propylene bags.

All other non recyclable waste for example food etc. must be put in the normal black or green plastic refuse bags or 240 Liter wheel bins for removal by the refuse teams of the City Council.

The Department Health and Environmental Services call on the residents of Potchefstroom to help them make the project work as this is a first in South Africa and can with your help be a major step towards environmental preservation and sustainability.

Currently the green Poly Propylene bags have been delivered and are serviced at the following areas:

A letter in Afrikaans and English is also distributed with the Poly Propylene bag to inform the residents of the project and what is expected to do with the recyclable waste items and the bags.

The distribution of the bags will continue until all the 35000 households in Potchefstroom and extensions have been reached.

The Department Health and Environmental Services thank all the residents of Potchefstroom for their co-operation and care for the environment.

For more information or any queries please contact the Department Health and Environmental Services at 2995257 or fax at 2995258.

CCP (CITIES FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION PROGRAMME)

POTCHEFSTROOM'S BASE CASE

THE TOTAL REDUCTION OF CO2 EQUIVALENT EMITTED BY POTCHEFSTROOM

MILESTONES OF CCP PROGRAMME:

STREETLIGHTING PROJECT:

• 200 Watt lights replaced with 125 Watt Mercury Vapour
• 200 Watt lights replaced with 70 Watt High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights
  • - Mercury Vapour lights - 23% saving
  • - High Pressure Sodium lights - 50,5%
  • - Saving of R84 762,65
  • - Annual CO2 saving = 334.3 tons

RETROFITTING OF AIRPORT RUNWAY

• In 2001 the airport runway was retrofitted
• Complete and operational
• Energy saved to date - 25 581 kWh
• R5 372-00 saved per year
• 20,8 tons CO2 saved per year
• Taxiway also retrofitted
• Saving 32 674 kW/year
• R6 862 saved per year
• 27,8 CO2 saved per year

UPGRADING OF STREETLIGHTS

• A residential area for a pilot project
  • - Replace 200 Watt lights with 70 Watt HPS lights
  • - 110 lights replaced
  • - Cost of R65 700
  • - Saving of 1 765 kWh / month
  • - CO2 saving = 18 tons/a
  • - Further 1 330 lights will be upgraded with 70 Watt HPS lights
  • - R650 per streetlight
  • - Saving will be 16.5 kWh/light/month
  • - CO2 saved annually = 362 103 kg
  • - R91 759 saved

GREEN BUILDING:
INCORPORATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY GUIDELINES INTO THE BUILDING PLANS OF NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

• New municipal buildings to comply to SAEDES
• SAEDES - energy efficiency guideline
• Framework for technical and performance provisions
• Reduce building energy consumption

New mayoral wing and offices built in conformance with SAEDES Three phases:

1. Evaluation of flooring and walls completed
• - Design 100% compliant to SAEDES
2. Auditing of mechanical and electrical elements for compliance to SAEDES Calculation of energy savings achieved &
3. Calculation of CO2 savings

METHANE RECOVERY:

• Hardware in place.
• Methane to fire the incinerator
• To incinerate the screens
• Incinerator currently runs for 8 hours a day with the recovered methane.
• Positive contribution to the GHG reduction programme in three ways:
  • - Three instead of four digesters 687.06 kg
    • Methane instead of 1 160.8 kg/day
  • - At the old plant, 1160.8 kg Methane emitted
    • Converted to CO2, this equals 4 376.9 kg of CO2 /day
    • 8 903 687.5 kg/year
    • New plant 687.06 kg Methane (CH4) recovered /day
    • Used for incineration After incineration 2 201.5 kg CO2/day emitted
    • 804 097.88 kg per year
    • Total saving of 2 million equivalents tons/year.
  • - Methane to fire the incinerator instead of diesel
  • - Saving of R361 350-00 per year on diesel

TREE PLANTING PROJECT:

• The City to plant 15 000 trees in PD Suburbs
  • CO2 sequestration
  • CO2 sequestration model developed
  • Needs funding
  • Job creation
  • Skills transfer
  • 6 070 trees already been planted
  • 12,5 tons CO2 sequestrated

ECO CIRCLE PROJECT

• This is a project that forms part of our CCP programme as well as a poverty alleviation and job creation programme.
• Up to date 10 028 Eco Circles (replants included) were established for the poorest of the poor since March 2001.
• Training given to other district and provincial institutions to roll out this project to other Districts, Provinces, institutions and communities.
• 10 unemployed people work as volunteers for the Eco Circle Project only receiving one cooked meal per day and a small payment for every garden they established at poor households.
• Job creation for Serelathle Club for the Aged who cook the daily meals for the volunteers at a minimum fee.
• This project is now been registered as a NGO.

OTHER MILESTONES:

• International collaboration with cities.
• Membership of ICLEI
• Showcased CCP project in Greece and Mexico. (Executive Mayor Mampe)
• Green Procurement Policy
• Partners of Canada and Malaysia visited us and did training for officials, Councillors, NGO's and CBO's on LA21 and EMS.
• Partnerships
• WSSD official site visit in 2001(± 100 International mayors)
• Launch of energy efficiency week with Min. Ngcuka in 2003
• Workshop for community members, NGO's, CBO's and FBO's on Environment and Sustainable Development in North West in collaboration with North West Eco Forum in 2003
• Closed the Old Landfill Site. New "Felophepa" Landfill Site start operation on the 1st December 2004.
• POLICIES AND DRAFT POLICIES:
  • Green Procurement Policy
  • Draft Mercury Disposal and Removal Policy
  • SAEDES policy

PARTNERSHIPS:

• " Centre for Environmental Management Potchefstroom University
• " Potchefstroom Local Municipality
• " ICLEI Africa
• " USAID
• " Environment Canada
• " Malaysia LA21 " Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism
• " Development Bank of Southern Africa
• " Konrad Adenhauer Foundation - Training
• " Enviro-Serv - Canada
• " Aero-Energy: Sponsor wind turbine
• " Community members
• " SEA (Sustainable Energy Africa)

AWARDS WON:

• IMPUMELO AWARD FOR ECO GROW PROJECT 2002.
• IMPUMELELO, VUNA, ETA AND DUBAI AWARDS FOR OUR CCP PROJECTS.

• Health Legislation
• Administration & Finance
• Environmental Management Unit
• Primary Health Care
• HIV / AIDS Programmes in the Clinics / Community
• Contact Details