By More Matshediso
Pretoria - Construction of the much anticipated Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital is going smoothly and is expected to be completed in February 2016.
On Monday, the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital’s Trust, Sibongile Mkhabela, told SAnews on completion of the hospital’s construction it will be handed over for equipment and interior design features to be installed.
“The official opening will then take place late 2016,” said Mkhabela.
Mkhabela said about 150 doctors and 451 paediatric nursing professionals will be employed once the hospital opens its doors.
The first phase of the recruitment process for the hospital, which is being built in Parktown, Johannesburg, has already started.
“There are two aspects to the planning of the recruitment for the hospital. Firstly, is the need to upskill nurses as well as fellowship training (post-graduate doctor training). Training for nurses started in 2014 and will be ongoing, and the fellowship training will begin in the second half of this year.
“Secondly, the actual recruitment process which will be led by an appointed Human Resource Committee. The process of recruiting staff is to start in the last quarter of 2015,” said the CEO.
Last week, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust received a R861 074.27 donation from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and Diplomatic Community during the International Nelson Mandela Day celebration in Winterveld, Pretoria.
Mkhabela said the trust is honoured to have received the support from the department, its representatives abroad, and the diplomatic community at large.
“The advocacy displayed by Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo in not only raising awareness but also ensuring a successful fundraising event is admirable,” she said.
Seokolo is South Africa's Ambassador to Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia. He is also the Permanent Representative to the International Organisations.
“We are also proud that South Africans headed the call to action to support us as we make Madiba’s dream a reality. It is because we were able to raise the initial funding locally that we were able to stand proud as we invited international donors to join us as partners in this legacy project,” she said.
The hospital will be the second one dedicated to children in South Africa, the first is the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, in Cape Town. - SAnews.gov.za
