New Paediatric Burns Unit opens at Ngwelezana Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

The Ngwelezana Hospital, which is about 20 km from Richards Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal, is a 554-bed hospital that provides district, regional and tertiary services to densely populated communities from the King Cetshwayo, Umkhanyakude and Zululand districts. It is also the referral centre for children who have suffered burns, trauma requiring surgery and orthopaedic care.

Currently, all paediatric burns and trauma cases at Ngwelezana Hospital are treated in the Adult Burns Ward, which allocates 21 of its 38 beds for younger patients. Burns patients require very intense and specialised care to avoid potentially fatal infections and, in most cases, skin grafts are needed to repair the damaged tissue.

The Carte Blanche Making a Difference Trust partnered withprimary sponsor - South32’s Hillside Aluminium smelter,Sakhiwo Infrastructure Solutions and architects, the Hospital Design Group, to renovate a section of the hospital for the creation of the brand new 22-bed Paediatric Burns Unit. “The partnership between government, private sector and health care users is very critical, it is more reason that the Health department appreciates the new burns ward,” said KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health’s Chief Director in SpecialisedServices Dr. Sandile Tshabalala. The state-of-the-art facility provides a range of care options from general patient to high care and isolated ICU rooms as well as the best in purpose-fit medical equipment. This includes the essential clinical dry and wet treatment areas required for the optimal treatment of burns patients and unique, custom-designed air treatment facilities throughout the new unit. “we accept the donation with thanks, but critically ask all partners to take care of it and other such facilities. We hope this facility will be able to create more dedicated health care workers and treat as many people as possible. Thanks to the partners, Carte Blanche and the MultiChoice team.” concluded Dr. Tshabala

“The new Paediatric Unit at Ngwelezana Hospital will literally be a lifesaver for children in desperate need of specialised care,” said Georginah Machiridza, Senior Manager of Marketing for M-Net Channels. “beyond that, however, the medical staff at the hospital will benefit from working in modern facilities and being trained on up-to-date equipment and treatment methodologies, making Ngwelezana Hospital a forerunner in specialist childcare.”

“The Carte Blanche Trust is continually in search of upliftment projects that will make a difference where it matters the most, which is in with the MultiChoice Group philosophy of ‘Enriching Lives’. However, the new Paediatric Unit at the Ngwelezana Hospital would not have been possible without the additional sponsorships and donations from companies operating in the region. We are extremely grateful for the support and are proud of what can be achieved through collaboration and commitment to a common goal,” concludes Georginah.