KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo says that the building of a new hospital to serve Mbumbulu and surrounding areas is now an issue that is “beyond doubt”.
Speaking shortly after briefing amakhosi at a meeting held at Mbumbulu recently, Dhlomo said the hospital would significantly improve the lives of an estimated 1,4 million people from areas such as Mfume, Nhlazuka, Mbumbulu, Folweni and others.
Those who need hospital care currently have to travel long distances to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in South Durban.
MEC Dhlomo said: “It will be remembered that when former President Jacob Zuma visited this area four years ago, he did indicate that people in Mbumbulu are raising the matter of a hospital very sharply. We have Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital that is big enough to support Umlazi.
“But areas such as Adams, Mfume, Nhlazuka, Mbumbulu, Folweni… that’s about 1,4 million people… do not have a hospital to themselves. I haven’t been prioritizing this area because, as you know, I come from Mbumbulu [and I did not want it to] … seem like I’m prioritizing my area. But really, there is a dire need of a hospital here.
“Now, getting a strong instruction from amakhosi to come forward with a report on this matter is something that I take seriously. Even though we have constraints, I had to come back and give a report of where we are in terms of this process. The hospital is very necessary, because it is very far to move from Mfume, Ilovu, coming into Prince Mshiyeni and finding long queues because there are many patients there. It is a matter of priority that we must look into a hospital in and around Mbumbulu.
“I made it clear to Amakhosi that the matter of a new hospital for this area is now beyond any doubt. I must now go back and look at our financial affairs, to see how we are doing financially, and establish from our Honourable Premier where we are insofar as this new hospital is concerned. But it is our wish that more concrete plans on the construction of this new hospital will soon be revealed. At the meeting, I promised amakhosi that I will report back to them soon in this regard. I wish to emphasise, however, that [the building of the new hospital] will not happen tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the brand new 500-bed Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital is set to open its doors in the middle of next year, bringing quality healthcare service delivery to more than 1,5 million people of Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu (INK) and surrounding areas.
The R2,5-billion level 2 regional hospital, near Bridge City mall, north of Durban, will serve as a referral centre for all surrounding public health care facilities, and will alleviate pressure from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, which currently has a massive catchment area.