Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital unveiled its multi-million rand special dispensary stores after the 2021 fire
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said the health department received a report on a regular basis from all provinces regarding the shortcomings of the occupational health and safety, including fire compliance.
Were the new state-of-the-art general stores at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital worth the wait? Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital unveiled its multi-million rand stores on May 18 after the old special dispensary stores were destroyed by a fire two years ago in April.
The units in the hospital which were affected but later reopened included the radiation and oncology unit, the accident and emergency unit as well as the 600-parking bay.
Hospitals that suffered extensive damage over the years include Chris Hani Baragwaneth, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Carletonville Hospital, among others.
The NGO and humanitarian group, Gift of the Givers, contributed approximately R60m towards the new stores which have adequate shelving to assist in the organisation and classification of stock, air conditioning, and ablution facilities and are equipped with integrated fire detection and suppression with fire water storage tanks.
NGO founder Dr Sooliman noted that the hospital’s stores are part of the Gift of the Givers’ ongoing interventions the organisation undertook across the country. “These interventions include the building and refurbishment of infrastructure, drilling of boreholes and water connection and the provision of scrubs and a range of items needed to improve healthcare services.”
Speaking at the newly unveiled 3 500m2 general stores in Parktown, senior architect Nkosinathi Mahlangu explained that although the special delivery stores were built, there is still much to be completed.
“We initiated the procurement through two parallel means, one is to do the fire remedial work concurrently with the facility ward fire compliance. We have received submissions which were good, and are in the middle of evaluations which should be completed soon and are looking at the middle of June in appointing the full team for both packages and November to get the contractor.”
Mahlangu added that the priority is the fire remedial work and has estimated 12 months to complete, which is subject to the appointment to the work of the contractor and professional service providers team.
Charlotte Maxeke Academical Hospital’s CEO, Gladys Bogoshi said there would be different types of fire training, “There is training that will be done by the occupational health and safety committee, staff training who will work in the dispensary area and training of staff again by the disaster committee. The last training which needs to be conducted will be for every staff in the hospital to be clued up during emergencies, including fires.”
Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla noted that the fire at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital brought the issue of occupational health and safety to the forefront in public health facilities, but was working with all the provinces from the national level to get reports regularly regarding the shortcomings of the occupational health and safety broadly including fire compliances.
Related Article:
Warriors with a Purpose visit Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital’s oncology ward
Heart transplant recipient is celebrated at Netcare Milpark Hospital
