status by Council of Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa
(COHSASA)
13 August 2007
The Department of Health's Lower Umfolozi District War Memorial Hospital
(LUDWMH) has been awarded full accreditation status by Council of Health
Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) for a period of two
years.
The hospital embarked on the programme in 2003 in an effort to improve the
quality of services delivered and have met with prescribed international
standards. Activities conducted to ensure successful completion of the
programme included training of staff, developing and implementing policies and
procedures and conducting audits and surveys.
LUDWMH is the only maternity hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and strives
continuously to create a quality culture, by complying and improving on the
standards set. Twenty-five different components were assessed during surveys
conducted in April and December 2006. Leaders of all components will receive
certificates at an awards ceremony to be held as follows:
Date: 16 August 2007
Time: 10h00
Venue: Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Hospital, 29 Union Street, Empangeni
The hospital has also been selected by COHSASA, in collaboration with the
Foundation for Hospital Art, United States of America (USA) to receive a
painting for the hard work done to meet international safety and patient care
standards. The artwork will be unveiled at the same time as the accreditation
certificate presentation.
Clients and communities served by LUDWMH are expected to receive quality
care by way of efficient and improved access to services, implementing the
patients and families rights and a healthy and safe environment.
Enquiries:
Mr Leon Mbangwa
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 083 459 8695
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
13 August 2007
