Medical equipment for Ulundi hospital

A PARTNERSHIP between the Ulundi and Reutlingen municipalities bore fruit when the German municipality handed over much-needed medical equipment to the Nkonjeni Hospital.

The mayor of Ulundi, Cllr NJ Manana, hosted the ceremony which was attended by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Provincial Department of Health representative Miss MP Themba and other stakeholders from government departments.

The relationship between the municipalities was forged in 2010 with a visit from the German County of Reutlingen, led by Ulf Doener, a long-time friend of the President, UMtwana kwa Phindangene and Dr Claus-Peter Hutter of Naturelife International.

Following up on the initial visit, the Germans came back to South Africa in 2012 and the German delegation visited Nkonjeni and St Francis hospitals.

They found the conditions at the hospitals were not satisfactory for the welfare of the people of Ulundi and there was a visible shortage of medical equipment that could help ease the situation.

In 2012 the Reutlingen County invited representatives from the Ulundi Municipality to travel to Germany to formalise the friendship agreement.

Needs identified

The main focus of this partnership was to be nature-related, but other issues that would benefit the community would be included.

The Nkonjeni Hospital issue was discussed as a priority point and discussions were held with the hospital management around their needs.

In his key-note address, Prince Buthelezi said he is delighted that Nkonjeni Hospital received some of the medical equipment.

It included sonography equipment, ECG equipment and a defibrillator – life-saving items not normally found in rural hospitals.

This will improve the diagnostic capacity at the hospital as well as the capacity of the hospital to treat illnesses.

The mobile kitchen will ensure patients receive healthy, nourishing meals, an essential part of healing and regeneration.