Newly appointed Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has promised the Mamelodi regional hospital a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.
The premier was accompanied by the Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to officiate the opening of the 13 newly upgraded and extended units at the Mamelodi regional hospital on Friday.
The project is part of government’s broader health infrastructure development and improvement programme to enhance public health service delivery through upgrading dilapidated structures and building new units for specialised services.
The upgrades also contributed to the reduction of therapy backlogs and long-waiting times for high pressured health facilities. Some of the upgraded and newly constructed units unveiled include the eye clinic, outpatient department (OPD), waiting area, mental health and choice on termination of pregnancy clinic.
Lesufi said he is rewarding the hospital for the hard work they are doing for the community of Mamelodi.
“I see what a hospital should be, an elderly person getting dental surgery free of charge. I see an ordinary sister from the township coming here to change their eyesight not paying R35 000 but for free,” said Lesufi.
He said Dr Naing Soe, CEO of Mamelodi regional hospital and the chairperson of the hospital board have done a good job.
“This is what we call commitment, care, vision and they have done all this things within budget and without the SIU investigation.
“What we are opening today is more than a private hospital and it excites me because the hospital is in the township and offers better care.”
Phaahla said the experience, changes, enthusiasm –not just from the management led by the CEO but also everywhere we went – the amount of energy and excitement just said to me indeed we have leadership at the hospital”.
He said this is a great achievement from the CEO and his team but it could not happen without the support of staff, community and political leadership.
Phaahla’s spokesperson Doctor Tshwale said 10% of the budget allocated by the department of infrastructure is spent on minor repairs of the institution but the hospital previously overspent.
“On scrutiny it was established that maintenance was underspending while the hospital was in an intolerably bad state,” said Tshwale.
The hospital executive agreed with the department of infrastructure that hospital renovations will be done by the hospital, since it has the capacity to do the work.
Jane Mohlaba of Mamelodi said she was happy with the state of the hospital compared to the past.
She said the service at the hospital in the past was very bad “but today it’s a first class hospital and very clean”.
The areas opened on the day are as follows:
– Step down
– Women’s Clinic (C-Top)
– Maternity Extension (Antenatal Clinic)
– Mental Health OPD
– Eye Clinic
– Isolation (Ward 2)
– OPD Waiting Area x2
– Dental
– Crisis Centre
– Revenue
– General Admin
– Cafeteria
– ART
The facilities were developed and upgraded as a response to a memorandum of issues raised by the community of Mamelodi.
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