KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo says that the renaming of Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Hospital after Queen Nandi is not only a tribute to the Zulu royal matriarch, but also an affirmation of the role played by women in society.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the official renaming of the hospital to the Queen Nandi Regional Hospital at eSikhaleni on Tuesday, Dhlomo said it comes at a time when more than 200 years of the reign of the Zulu Kingdom is celebrated and Queen Nandi honoured for giving birth to the great King Shaka.
The hospital is dedicated exclusively to the care of obstetrical, gynaecological and neonatal patients in the Zululand region.
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The 318-bed facility averages approximately 10 000 deliveries and performs approximately 2 000 surgery procedures per year.
Dhlomo said the hospital is already a centre of excellence supporting, among others, the provision of oncology services.
‘Previously patients had to travel long distances to get to Durban for oncology treatment. We have created a hub of excellence for mothers and children.’
KZN Premier Willies Mchunu said the renaming of the hospital is a natural progression, as the district in which it is situated has already been named after King Cetshwayo.
Delivering the keynote address, King Goodwill Zwelithini thanked the KZN government for renaming the hospital after Queen Nandi, only a few years after the renaming of Durban’s King George Hospital after King Dinuzulu.
He urged the community to teach their children about the importance of healthy living and urged everyone to undergo regular medical check-ups.
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