Well-designed cities can go a long way in supporting the achievement of SDG 3, good health and well-being. When the City of Cape Town was named World Design Capital 2014, it decided to test the service design methodology within one of its busiest, and most comprehensive day clinics, the Ikwhezi Clinic in the Nomzamo township. Alderman Jean-Pierre Smith, the new head of health services in Cape Town, reveals how the WDC Ikhwezi project has since sparked off a number of service design and creative improvements in the City’s health services.
What are some of the key challenges in your city with regards to health care and the promotion of SDG 3, good health and well-being?
The need for access to healthcare services in the City is immense and as a Caring City, we continue to add services to meet those needs. However, the resource-constrained context within which we operate means we are continually challenged to improve the efficiency of meeting the needs of our citizens.
For example, the City of Cape Town provides nurse-based care, with doctor support: nurses are trained according to specific protocols/guidelines and mentored to be able to see about 80% of the clients presenting at the primary health care clinics. Only complicated cases see the doctor. However, the pace of change experienced in the last 10 years with regards to treatment of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, including drug-resistant TB, has made it difficult to keep abreast with the necessary nurse training. High staff attrition compounds the problem with constant setbacks in the percentage of clinical staff who received the necessary training.