Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital’s new burns unit officially opened
MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko on Monday officially opened the new extension of the Wits Roy McAlpine Burns Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, south of Johannesburg.
Nkomo-Ralehoko was joined by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Witwatersrand, Professor Zebulon Vilakazi at the facility, and South Africa’s First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe.
The new wing enhances the hospital’s capacity with an additional six adult beds, bringing the total number to 12 beds; four pediatric beds, which raises the number to 11; and a new burns theater and a teaching laboratory.
Annually, over 700 adults and pediatric patients with severe burns are admitted to the unit for critical care.
The opening of the new wing is expected to increase the unit’s capacity and further advance research to improve the science and treatment of burns.
“We’ll be able to have specialized comprehensive care to burns patients, offering them not only an advanced medical treatment but also comfort and reassurance. You can imagine when patients are burned there’s quite a lot that goes through them emotionally, psychologically, and physically, as some of them might even lose some sort of function.
“This morning, we can stand here proudly and say that we can give all patients the treatment they deserve,” said the hospital’s chief executive officer Dr Nthabiseng Makgana.
Meanwhile, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko praised the collaborative efforts.
“I am particularly pleased that this centre of excellence will continue to contribute to the training of healthcare professionals involved in the complex care of severely burned patients and assist in advancing research. The extension of the Wits Roy McAlpine Burns Unit is part of a critical component of building an inclusive healthcare system that serves each one of us. This milestone demonstrates what we can achieve when we unite behind a common goal”.
She added that quality infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving healthcare system and, because of Gauteng's growing population, the demand for healthcare services is ever-increasing.
“The work of this burns unit has been remarkable since its establishment in the early 1990s, as the only specialized public burns unit in the province.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko says it's important for the Gauteng health department to prepare for the implementation of the National Health Insurance by accelerating the expansion of existing health facilities and building new ones to meet the growing demand for healthcare services.
