Help build hospital brick by brick

Independent Newspapers

GRAND PLAN: Ncedi Stemela will be head nurse for clinical services at the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund Hospital that is being built and is due to open by the end of next year. Picture: Paballo Thekiso

Plans to build the much-anticipated Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Joburg have hit a major snag – R1 billion is needed to complete the world-class facility, but donors seem to be in short supply.

The foundation-building stage was to have begun late last year, but had to be postponed to allow for more funds to be raised.

But the hospital’s management said this week it is confident that the facility would be completed by the end of next year – its opening is set for November 2014.

“We have different initiatives that are targeted at how different communities can take part in our capital fund-raising campaign,” said the Hospital Trust’s chief executive, Bongi Mkhabela.

“We have received tremendous support and we are optimistic, but we still need urgent support.”

The hospital is to open its doors to children across the country and provide services for young patients from sub-Saharan African countries, irrespective of their social and economic status.

With the public health care system overburdened by a plethora of problems ranging from overcrowding, a lack of proper infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled medical personnel and professionals, it is hoped that the hospital will alleviate these problems by providing a holistic approach to child care.

Construction of the specialist paediatric and tertiary referral facility is expected to cost R1bn.

A further R400 million a year is needed for operational costs.

The hospital’s spokesman, Vuyo Lutseke, said that R210m had been raised over the past 24 months.

However, she said that this was not nearly enough.

“We need to have raised up to R500m for the ground-breaking and construction to begin,” Lutseke said.

“We are at the halfway mark. Therefore, we need all the assistance and support from the public (we can get) to reach our goal.”

The R1bn would be used for construction, equipping and furnishing the hospital. The national Department of Health had undertaken to provide for the daily operation.

Lusteke said she could not confirm when work would begin on the site.

Last year, the hospital’s management, steering committee and ambassadors embarked on a fund-raising venture targeting corporate companies.

The public has been urged to help by contributing the cost of a brick, which would help in the construction.

A 30-second “Give a Gift to Madiba” TV commercial was produced to raise funds for the hospital.

Other initiatives have been launched, such as the For Kids By Kids Piggy Bank and the Buy-a-Bed campaigns.

The children’s hospital is to be built in Parktown, next to the Wits University Medical School.

It is to have 200 beds for patients, with plans to increase the number to 300 at a later stage.

The hospital is to also specialise in craniofacial (relating to the skull and face), cardiothoracic (heart and chest), haematological (blood), oncological (cancer) and general paediatric surgeries.

Meanwhile, plans to recruit and train paediatric nurses for the hospital were unveiled recently at a lunch attended by influential women.

The guests included Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, chairwoman of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, First Lady Thobeka Madiba-Zuma, Elinor Sisulu, the hospital’s ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Wits University child nursing and paediatric nursing academic Sizakele Khoza, former president of the South African Paediatric Society Nonhle Mbambo, and King Goodwill Zwelithini’s daughter Princess Ntandoyesizwe Zulu-Moilwa.

The group met Mkhabela to brainstorm fund-raising ideas to pay for the training of nurses.

“We are here today to make sure that we find the right team of nurses to provide specialised high-quality care for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital,” Mkhabela said.

“We need to remember this is a different hospital and a first of its kind, therefore we need to change our mindset.”

Madiba-Zuma said that the hospital would help to address the shortages in high-level paediatric care. “I pledge my full support to carry (Mandela’s) dream forward and take responsibility of being part of this cause,” she said. “We should all fly the (Mandela) flag high.”

The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town Town is South Africa’s only dedicated child health institution that offers a comprehensive range of specialist paediatric services.

How the public can help?

To fulfil Madiba’s wish for the children of southern Africa, everybody – whether a businessman, a parent, or a child – can offer their support. No amount is too small. To donate any amount, SMS “GIFT” to 40301. SMSes cost R20 each. Visit www.nelsonmandelachildrens hospital.org for more information. -Saturday Star

The Saturday Star will publish a barometer every six weeks to keep the public updated on the donations and funds raised.