KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC opens millions worth of hospital Infrastructure projects at Mseleni Hospital, thanks staff for service excellence
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has officially opened newly completed Infrastructure Projects at Mseleni Hospital, which are aimed at improving the Health status of the UMkhanyakude residents.
These entail an HIV and Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections and TB (HAST) Unit, at a total cost of R5,7million; a Female Ward at cost of R18, 97million; a Therapy Unit and Staff Accommodation of 24 Flats at a combined cost of R27, 35m.
Mseleni Hospital is regarded as a centre of excellence of sorts, having garnered a number of awards in the past. These include the Silver Award in 2013 and the Gold Award in 2014 – both from the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier. It was also bestowed the Gold Masea Award in the category of Best Batho Pele Team in 2014 by the KZN Department of Health.
“We are very excited to be opening these Infrastructure Projects, as they will assist a great deal to improve the quality of healthcare services that we are providing. Even though UMkhanyakude is not among the Districts where the National Health Insurance is being rolled out, we’ve made it a point that hospitals like Mseleni have the necessary capacity because of where they are located,”
Dr Dhlomo said.
Speaking at the same event, Dr Dhlomo also congratulated a number of hardworking staff members from the Hospital who have amassed numerous service excellence awards in the past.
Among those on whom Dr Dhlomo heaped praise is Dr Victor Fredlund, who was awarded the Community Service Award by the South African Medical Association for his dedication in rural health last year, having served the people from 1981.
Dr Dhlomo appealed on the likes of Dr Freudland to groom up and coming doctors to dedicate their lives to serving the people – regardless of their geographical location. Dr Dhlomo decried the fact that many doctors opted to work in urban areas and that the Department had been forced to find incentives to retain skills, such as providing accommodation and paying special allowances. However, in many cases, even this was not enough.
Dr Dhlomo heaped praise on other staff members for going beyond their call of duty to ensure that the Department offers quality health care to citizens.
“I have to indicate that ever since I assumed my duties as the Health MEC; I have been visiting and going around Hospitals and Clinics to see for myself how our patients were treated; how our institutions kept and as well as how our workforce was performing their duties. In this on-going exercise I realized that there were many staff members who go out of their way to ensure that patients are treated compassionately and in clean healing environments.
“Today I am here to we acknowledge and recognise all those that have been supportive of all the efforts encompassed in the priorities we set that included Overhauling Provincial Health Services; Rationalisation of health services; Revitalisation of PHC; improving governance; strengthening management capacity as well as decentralising delegations and accountability.
“It is thus with great pride that I come here to personally say congratulation to all those that have received Recognition and Awards for their outstanding performance in dealing with our patients.”
In paying tribute to all those that have excelled, Dr Dhlomo reminded the audience of the ANC Polokwane conference in 2007, whereby resolutions were made and instruction given to the ANC and its government to elevate both education and health as a priority.
For health in particular, the mandate was the attainment of the following:
- Increasing Life Expectancy
- Decreasing Maternal and Child Mortality
- Combating HIV and AIDS and decreasing the burden of disease from Tuberculosis
- Strengthening Health System Effectiveness
“Indeed there is still a long road to travel but let us all know that we are appreciated and on the right track. Our President; Hon Jacob Zuma has said it: ‘Life expectancy is now firmly on an upward trend. South Africans are now living longer.’
“We thus encourage every healthcare worker to do good even if we are not watching and those that have not been selected yet, to know that they too are valuable members of our staff worthy to be recognised and awarded. With all of us working together, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health will continue to provide a quality health care service that is responsive, accessible, safe and patient-centred,” said Dr Dhlomo.
For more information:
Desmond Motha
Cell: 083 295 3901
