The sixth largest province in the country, platinum mining forms the backbone of this province’s economy.
NorthWest has historically struggled to provide health services to its largely rural population, mainly due to serious staff shortages.
Utilisation of primary health care facilities was the second highest in the country in 2005 with 2,5 visits per person per year.
Bophirima district, which borders the desolate Northern Cape and Botswana, is the most deprived in the NorthWest. Ironically, its primary health care expenditure of R416 per capita is the highest in the country and the clinic utilisation rate of almost 3 visits per person the highest in the province.
Despite some pockets of excellence, the tuberculosis cure rate in this province has deteriorated from almost 60 percent in 2003 to 56 percent in 2004.
The proportion of pregnant women tested for HIV improved to almost 48 percent, but is still inadequate. The prevalence of HIV in pregnant women has remained constant over the last two years at 27 percent.
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