By Sydney Masinga
Mmabatho - A R35 million psychiatric hospital has been officially opened in the North West to help restore the dignity of mental patients in the province.
At the recent opening of the Kgatelopele Wellness Care Centre in Mmabatho, North West Premier Thandi Modise said one of the things that anti-apartheid activists fought for was for dignity to be afforded to all South Africans.
“Kgatelopele means moving forward and we know that every journey begins with small steps. Therefore we are confident that this facility will go a long way in helping our people who experience trauma in their lives. It will heal them when they are broken,” said Modise.
The 32-bed facility, which was financed by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), is located in Unit 4 in Mmabatho.
“We thank all those involved in establishing this facility for allowing South Africans to reclaim their dignity,” said the premier.
According to hospital spokesperson Dr Letlhogonolo Molosi, the hospital was completed last year and is doing exceptionally well since it opened its doors to the public on the January 2 this year.
“The centre is the brainchild of local psychologists who saw the need to have a local wellness centre to treat sub-acutely mentally-ill patients without having to refer them to other centres outside the area,” said Dr Molosi.
Dr Molosi said although the centre currently serves the whole of Ngaka Modiri Molema District, there were plans to expand to other districts.
One of the founders of the facility, clinical psychologist Florah Makama said the business venture was in partnership between Care Cure Management Company and Kgatelopele, whose shareholders are 60% women.
Jan van Beukering of Hospectic Architects and Health Planners, who designed the building, said: “The centre has everything that bigger and fully-fledged hospitals have, in terms of standard and facilities. There is a need for smaller centres such as Kgatelopele which are located closer to homes of the patients.” – SAnews.gov.za
