​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng Department of Health  says the department has made progress in implementing its priorities despite the  COVID-19 global pandemic. 
Giving an update on the implementation of the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GTT2030) programme of action at a media briefing in Ormonde, Johannesburg, acting Head of Department, Lesiba Malotana said the COVID 19 context provided an opportunity for the Gauteng Health system to demonstrate its resilience despite being marked with numerous challenges like of governance, leadership and limited ICT infrastructure.
"There has been relative success in the local fight against COVID 19 specifically as this relates to; containment of the pandemic and minimal mortality relative to other city regions globally, the crisis has been used to accelerate the five year health infrastructure plans, strengthening data driven decision making and data visualisation, partnerships and harmonised accountability between private and public sector which are critical for successful NHI implementation, mobilisation of additional support through the private sector/business sector critical for long term effectiveness of health care delivery and capacitation of the Core service and administrative HR capacity. 
"Reflections of the past 8 months and lessons from both Global and Local contexts provides an opportunity to strengthen interventions and accelerate implementation of GGT priority programmes for effective health care delivery," said Malotana.
He said the department would continue to implement pathways for improving health infrastructure and health services, despite existing pressures at various administrative levels. 
"The existing road to recovery work marked by Employee Value Proposition programmes, e health strategy, improvement strategies for priority programmes encapsulated in planning frameworks of the department has been strengthened by the opportunities provided by the pandemic and the Gauteng response to it," he said.
Malotana noted good progress in the following areas:
887 966 patients were enrolled on (Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution) CCMDD Programme (cumulative), 105 127 new patients enrolled in Q2 alone;
Improvements in the TB treatment success rate of up to 80% from 74% in Q1 however it is still below targeted 90% (90/90/90)
COVID 19 measures were heighted during Q1 & Q2 which included Tracing of 99% and 98% respectively of the Contacts and
COVID 19 related interventions continued with higher than National average recovery rates; and
1 778 467 people who were tested for HIV and 1 049 935 additional people tested during Q2 which ensured the province that the first 90% target of the (90/90/90) strategy will be realised.