Umbumbulu hospital on the cards, says health MEC
It will ultimately bring a significant improvement to about 1,4-million people from surrounding areas
THE building of a new hospital to serve Umbumbulu and surrounding areas is ‘beyond doubt’, according to a statement released by KZN Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
He was speaking shortly after briefing amakhosi (chiefs) at a meeting at Umbumbulu on Monday, 9 April.
He said although construction of the new hospital is still in the planning stages, it will ultimately bring a significant improvement to the lives of an estimated 1,4-million strong population from areas such as Adams, Mfume, Nhlazuka, Mbumbulu, Folweni and others.
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Those who require hospital care currently have to travel long distances to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.
MEC Dhlomo said: “When former President Jacob Zuma visited this area four years ago, he indicated that people in Umbumbulu are raising the matter of a hospital very sharply. We have Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital which is big enough to support Umlazi but areas such as Adams, Mfume, Nhlazuka, Mbumbulu, Folweni – that’s about 1,4-million people that do not have a hospital to themselves.”
The MEC was at pains to insist he particularly hadn’t prioritised the area he hails from, but was instead responding to its ‘dire need’ for a hospital.
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He said the amakhosi had asked for him to report on the matter.
MEC Dhlomo assured the amakhosi that he would assess the health department’s financial affairs and liaise with the Premier about the prospects of a hospital.
“It is our wish that more concrete plans on the construction of this new hospital will soon be revealed. At the meeting, I promised amakhosi that I will report back to them soon. I wish to emphasise, however, that [the building of the new hospital] will not happen tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, in the north of Durban, the new 500-bed Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital is set to open its doors in the middle of next year, bringing quality healthcare service delivery to more than 1,5-million people in Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu (INK) and surrounding areas. Similarly, the R2,5bn level two regional hospital near Bridge City mall, also to the north of Durban, will serve as a referral centre for all surrounding public health care facilities, and will alleviate pressure from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, which currently has a massive catchment area.
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