One of the things that we fought for in South Africa was for dignity to be afforded to all South Africans irrespective of their condition, North West Premier Thandi Modise said during the opening of a 32 bed sub-acute Psychiatric Wellness Centre in Mahikeng on Thursday.
“We must acknowledge that a lot of discrimination happens in the health care service. Kgatelopele means moving forward and we know that every journey begins with small steps. Therefore we are confident that this facility will go a long way in helping our people who experience trauma in their lives. It will heal them when they are broken.
We thank all those involved in establishing this facility for allowing South Africans to reclaim their dignity,” said Premier Modise before cutting the ribbon to officially open the thirty-five million rand facility.
The facility which was financed by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) is located in Unit 4 Mmabatho.
According to Dr Letlhogonolo Molosi, the hospital was completed last year and is doing exceptionally well since it opened its doors to the public on the second of January this year.
“The centre is the brainchild of local psychologists who saw the need to have a local wellness centre to treat sub-acutely mentally-ill patients without having to refer them to other centres outside the area,” said Dr Molosi.
Molosi said although the centre currently serves the whole of Ngaka Modiri Molema Disctrict, there were plans to expand to other districts. One of the founders, Clinical Psychologists Florah Makama said that the business venture is partnership between Care Cure Management Company and Kgatelopele which has 60% of women as shareholders.
Jan van Beaukering of Hospectic Architects and Health Planners who designed the building said there is a need for smaller centres such as Kgatelopele which are located closer to homes of the patients. He said the centre has everything that bigger and fully-fledged hospitals have, in terms of standard and facilities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
