Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 11-10-2017
The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg says the one of a kind facility is a realization of the dream of late former President Nelson Mandela.
Journalists and media organizations were on Wednesday invited to a tour of the state of the art referral and tertiary quaternary hospital, which caters for the treatment of specific diseases in children.
The child friendly hospital with playful art decor officially opened on 21 June, has seen over 200 patients walk through its doors.
It boasts a cardiac, neonatal and pediatric ICU, oncology, and radiology units with CT scan & MRI machines and an operating theatre, which features the latest medical equipment.
Parents whose children are admitted to the hospital can stay at the onsite Ronald Macdonald Family House free of charge which features 27 en-suite bedrooms, one for every year Madiba was in prison, a fully stocked kitchen, Wi-Fi and a boardroom.
CEO of the National Mandela Children’s Hospital Dr. Mandisa Maholwana says Madiba loved children and the facility is a realization of his dream.
Maholwana says the former statesman wanted the hospital not only to accommodate South African children, but the continent as a whole and that no child should be turned away due to their economic viability.
“Tata didn’t want to see children suffer. So really his dream was to make sure we reduce child mortality, we reduce child morbidity. But most importantly we treat children in an environment that is conducive for healing children.”
While the hospital is a government-funded facility, it also receives private donations from NGO’s including Islamic Relief worldwide, which has made a significant contribution to the facility.
Islamic Relief’s Yusuf Mohamed says they are proud to be associated with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
“This decision was taken about four years ago. All the offices come together because it was linked to Nelson Mandela, the father of the democracy, they decided there’s no way we can’t be part of it. It was decided to sponsor the pediatric oncology unit. The total sponsorship, our commitment is $10 Million (R135,764 million)
While only the radiology department is currently operational, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital says all units will be fully functional soon.
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