Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members of the House and guests, it is an honour and privilege for me today to be standing here participating in the debate on International Women's Day, the theme being "Equal Rights for All, Equal Opportunities for All".
My speech will focus on women in public health, particularly in management. One woman may change a little, but many women will change everything.
Women's rights in health care management are not being fully promoted and adhered to. The statistics show that there has been little change in their position in management hierarchies over the past three to five years.
Women move up the organisational hierarchy within their hospitals at a much slower rate than their male counterparts. For example, in central hospitals in Gauteng 75% of CEOs are males and only 25% are females. In regional hospitals 64% of CEOs are males and only 36% are females. Most women are managing at district health level. What are we saying about our women? Are we saying they are not capable? One wonders.
The gap between qualified men and women in terms of equal opportunities for all in health care leadership is widening. The majority of top management positions in health care administration are held by men, even though women outnumber men in that profession. The trend has been that women are placed in acting positions of leadership until such time as a "suitable" man is available for the position, of course through the formality of normal appointment or employment procedures. At times the "very suitable candidate", a male candidate, is actually not even as capable as the woman in the acting capacity.
A good example is the Acting Director-General of Health, Dr K S Chetty, at the national Department of Health. One wonders: Until when? Another example in the same department is that of Ms V N Rennie, who has been acting in two positions, as Acting Deputy Director-General and Acting Chief Financial Officer, since 2008.
These situations are degrading to women. When Dr Arthur Manning was removed from office at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2007, Mrs Johanna More, who then worked at Gauteng Head Office in Johannesburg ... [Interjections.] [Laughter.] ... as Chief Director: Hospital Services was appointed to act in that position. Guess for how long? Three years! It took her three years to be appointed permanently in that position.
Chairperson, as women we are calling for this trend to come to an end, because the Department of Health is not Hollywood. Posts need to be advertised and capable women with the right leadership and management skills, knowledge and intellectual capacity need to be appointed permanently and given responsibilities, and be held accountable.
The other issue of concern, which some members have already alluded to, is that of HIV/Aids. The HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa hits women more than men; it's a huge challenge to us women. This is a major crisis for women in South Africa. A woman has strength that amazes men, hence behind every successful man there is a woman. But, guess what? Behind every successful woman you seldom find a man! [Interjections.] Men feel challenged and threatened. Imagine where we would be if state-owned enterprises such as Eskom, SAA and the SABC were led by capable women fit for the positions. Definitely South Africa would be a developed state by now. [Interjections.]
The ANC-led government needs to move faster in appointing capable women to positions of influence in public health care. It must value the balance of the different perspectives men and women bring, and use this difference to good advantage for better quality health care for all.
I conclude with an example of the difference women can make if given the opportunity: On 8 July 2009 Dr Helga Holst, Chief Executive Officer of McCord Hospital was awarded the Business Women's Association Social Entrepreneur Award at the annual gala event held at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban. She received the award for budget control and proof that the organisation was financially sustainable; evidence of applying practical, innovative and sustainable approaches to benefit society, including direct social impact and scale of projects and initiatives; and a unique approach to economic and social problems, to show an approach that cuts across sectors and disciplines, grounded in certain values and processes that are common to each social problem.
She was nominated by a former winner, who herself won in the Emerging Entrepreneur category. She has served as CEO of McCord Hospital for more than 15 years. McCord Hospital is a Christian faith-based organisation that has consistently provided high-quality, nondiscriminatory and cost- effective health care services to the underserved sectors of the population in the greater eThekwini region.
Dr Holst serves as its sixth medical superintendent - what we today call CEOs. During her tenure outpatient services at this hospital saw an increase, from 8 648 patients to 15 000 patients per month in 2009. A very successful internationally recognised HIV programme that she came up with still exists today, and they see 17 000 patients.
In addition to being recognised for her work at this hospital, she was recognised for her accomplishments while serving as the medical superintendent at Emmaus Hospital in the Drakensberg. She was instrumental in rebuilding 60% of the hospital, and establishing eight community clinics and an active community-based TB programme. She further increased the number of medical staff to better serve the patients.
There are many women like Dr Holst in South Africa awaiting their turn.
Modulasetulo, basadi ke dikokonono, ba tshwara thipa ka bohaleng, ba lerato le se nang kgethollo, ba na le mamello, ba na le kutlwisiso le bokgoni. Ke a leboha. [Mahofi.] [Chairperson, women are hard workers, they are brave, their love does not discriminate, and they are patient, understanding and capable. Thank you. [Applause.]]