We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
Date
: 21/05/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: G Ramokgopa: Opening of the Angiography Unit at Dr George
Mukhari Hospital
ADDRESS BY GAUTENG HEALTH MEC, GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ON THE OPENING OF
THE ANGIOGRAPHY UNIT AT DR GEORGE MUKHARI HOSPITAL, Ga-Rankuwa, 21
May 2004
Our hosts
The Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mdzanga and
The Head, Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging, Prof Tsatsi
The Members of the Hospital Board, with apology of the Chairman Mr
Mongwe
and The Employee Representative Organisations
I also acknowledge the presence of The Regional Chief director for
Tshwane-Metsweding, Dr Njongwe
The Representatives from MEDUNSA, Referring clinics and
hospitals
The Councillors and other members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
It is for me a joy and a privilege to be among you today as we
officially open of this state of the art angiography suite that
cost the Gauteng Department of Health and the public at least R11
million. I am please that as we celebrate ten years of democracy we
are also able to celebrate an improvement in the availability of
latest state of the art technology in our public hospitals.
This unit will certainly improve quality of patient care. It will
boost our efforts for motivation, retention and recruitment of
highly qualified professional staff to serve in public hospitals so
that the quality of care to our people, especially the poor and the
vulnerable in society can be better, faster and more effective.
This unit will also improve the capacity and prestige of Dr George
Mukhari Hospital as a teaching and research platform for
undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals.
When this government came into office in 1994, we inherited a
health system fraught with many challenges and problems. One of the
challenges was that the equipment used had aged and the health
infrastructure was in a very poor state.
Since 1999, we have spent R1.2 billion on new and upgraded
infrastructural projects. In the same period we spent R698 million
on the purchase of latest equipment.
Last year alone for Dr George Mukhari Hospital, we purchased a
Stereotactic Machine which makes it possible for neurosurgeons to
perform even the finest operations on the brain with increased
chances of success and enhanced for optimal recovery of our
patients. Three new anaesthetic machines and Cardiac monitors were
bought with the cardiac laboratory digitalised. The digitalisation
of the cardiac lab has helped to increase efficiency to diagnose
and treat more patients.
Currently, Dr George Mukhari Hospital is not a Gauteng Hospital but
a National Institution providing Tertiary Health Care Services and
a platform for Training and Research for the country. The province
mainly funds some primary and largely secondary hospital care
services. The investments we have made over the years in this
hospital have thus benefited our people from other provinces are,
such as the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and even people from
other countries, especially on our continent.
The only requirement to access this highly specialised, high tech
and high cost care is that people must come here through a referral
system. We will be building a district hospital in the Soshanguve
area to relieve the hospital of treating minor ailments and to
ensure that communities have access to hospital services closer to
where they live for these minor ailments.
As we prepare ourselves to deliver on the mandate of the third term
of democracy, we are well positioned through the contract with our
people, to celebrate the next decade with an even better health
care systems that is world-renowned.
At the risk of not mentioning all, some of the Centres of
Excellence here in Dr George Mukhari hospital include the
Ophthalmology department, the Burns Unit, the Hand Surgery Unit,
The Neorosurgery Unit, and others.
The department of Pediatrics and Child Health is the only South
African institution selected by the International Nutrition
Foundation-Ellison Medical Foundation to participate in their
programme to strengthen research on health issues related to
nutrition and infection.
The head of the hospital's nuclear medicine department, Prof
Scathing has become the first Black South African to be appointed
advisor for the World Federation on Nuclear Medicine.
Together with its sister institution, MEDUNSA, this hospital has
made a significant contribution in redressing the racial and gender
imbalances inherited from Apartheid era in the medical fraternity.
Amongst these the first African women to become
Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and General Surgeon respectively in
South Africa were trained here.
For these achievements, and for keeping the lamp of hope for our
people and our country shining, I want to thank our staff, the
consultants, professional and support staff. I also acknowledge the
role that management play with the support of our strategic
partners in MEDUNSA, the Private Sector and in the community.
These achievements give us confidence that this angiography unit
will be in good and capable hands for the benefit of all, even the
poorest of the poor.
I want to conclude by asking that we all work together to ensure
that this hospital become known not by controversy, disputes and
complaints but by the excellent work all of us are doing. Many of
us have very fond memories of how this hospital shaped our
consciousness and focus on building a just, democratic and
prosperous society.
Let the leadership of all stakeholders in this hospital work
together to ensure that communities we serve know you by the caring
ethos and excellence of your services. Let the people who work
here, especially those in the frontline services, feel cared for in
a way that a caring ethos becomes culture of the institution and a
way of life.
As we are gathered here today the President is delivering the state
of the nation address at the joint sitting of the National Assembly
and of the National Council of Provinces. Let us all take interest
in the commitments, programs and processes for participation and
partnerships that government is making. Let us work together to
debate and utilise the democratic processes that are in place to
contribute to these commitments and to strengthen partnerships. Let
us all however remember that we are entrusted with the
responsibility to look after the resources of the public in our
care and look after the members of our communities when they come
here. Yes we should provide high quality care but yes we should
also treat them with respect and dignity.
I wish to express regret at the delays of appointing a CEO and
promise that the process will be concluded by the end of this
month. I thank Dr Modzanga for holding the fort in the interim
period.
I further invite you to make inputs as we develop a five-year
strategic plan for the department that responds to the mandate of
this third term of our democratic dispensation. I have no doubt
that all of us will spare no effort in making sure that we work
together to improve dialogue and strengthen partnerships that will
ensure that we achieve the goal of Health for a better life for all
our people.
For more information contact:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Issued by: Department Of Health, Gauteng Provincial
Government
21 May 2004
Map
