Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle became the first patient to use Delta 9 technology at the new Cecilia Makiwane Hospital’s (CMH) phase one in Mdantsane yesterday.
Hospital CEO Dr Mthandeki Xhamlashe qualified the parameter, saying it was 55000m² and, unlike the old facility, the new hospital has two floors allowing for easy navigation as well as efficiency.
Masualle said government had been on a mission to improve the quality of infrastructure in hospitals in line with the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
Among the hospitals undergoing major upgrades are Dora Nginza, Livingstone, Mthatha General and Frontier.
Cecilia Makiwane’s Johannesburg-based great granddaughter, Dr Nonqaba Makiwane, said the honouring of Makiwane was a great thing.
Nonqaba recalled how Makiwane died at the age of 39 from a work-related-illness.
Nonqaba had visited CMH with her family for the first time in her matric year. She remembers the fuss her family made on the day, which was also in honour of Makiwane. There was also a radio interview, she recalled.
She said they were “very proud and honoured as a family to be associated with her and this new facility”. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za