"This fine old lady, MMH, truly deserved the R32 million facelift she
recently underwent and looks vibrant and full of energy again, ready to send
healthy babies and mothers to their homes," Pierre Uys, MEC of Health for the
Western Cape said at a 90th birthday celebration function at the well-known
maternity hospital.
MMH is a specialist hospital and admits only complicated cases, 40 percent
of births in this hospital are caesareans. In 2005 a number of 7 404 babies
were born and in November this year 731. Only yesterday 23 babies were born at
MMH.
The recent upgrade involved amongst others a new neonatal unit with 69 beds,
two theatres, eight delivery suites, one admission suite with five beds and one
special care area with nine beds. "MMH's dedicated staff deserves to work in a
world class environment and we will strive to keep them well equipped in order
to render the best healthcare possible for our patients," Uys said.
The hospital has a staff complement of 329, 106 adult beds and 69 beds for
babies. In January 2007, 14 new nurses will commence their careers at MMH.
Patients are referred from Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mitchell's Plain, Claremont,
Woodstock and Rondebosch East. However, the hospital has a reputation of not
turning away any pregnant mother who seeks help.
Some of the other services that the hospital renders are:
* mothers to mothers to be, where HIV positive mothers who already delivered
their babies form a support group for HIV positive mothers currently in MMH's
care in order to guide them on good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle
* kangaroo mother care through which mother and baby bond in order to stimulate
baby's growth and promote good health
* neonatal unit fitted with an intensive care unit as well as high care and
observation units
* a breast milk bank where HIV negative mothers can donate breast milk for sick
babies.
Minister Uys paid tribute to the staff that worked in the hospital at any
given time during the past 90 years and conveyed the appreciation of the
Western Cape government to them. "You set high standards of medical
professionalism and ethical values for us to strive towards. I am proud of
every single one of you," he said.
Contact:
Pierre Uys
Cell: 082 455 5144
Herman van der Westhuizen
Cell: 082 772 9161
Issued by: Department of Health, Western Cape Provincial Government
13 December 2006
