HUHUDI resident Boitumelo Senye could not hold back her tears yesterday on noticing improvements after being left semi-paralysed following a stabbing incident a few months ago
After a physiotherapy session at the new Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital, which opened its doors two months ago, Senye has renewed hope she will be able to walk and talk properly again one day.
Senye, 28, was stabbed in the back of her neck in February and was left semi-paralysed.
She could not believe her eyes when she moved her left leg after undergoing physiotherapy at the hospital.
Senye, who also has impaired speech as a result of the stabbing, thought she would never be able to walk again.
"I am still in shock. I thought my future was doomed."
She was thankful to everyone for the help she got from the hospital.
Though not fully operational, the two-storey state hospital built in the shape of a star provides the much-needed tertiary-referral service within the primary healthcare system.
It boasts facilities that are on par with all private hospitals. It is situated 500m south of the old Vryburg Hospital.
The total cost of rolling out the hospital was R247 million. An amount of R151 million went to construction of the building, while R96 million was spent on purchasing the hospital's medical equipment.
The hospital offers all the major services and prides itself in its diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including a Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner that utilises Tele-Radiology, and in the not too distant future, Tele-Medicine.
It also has a digital radiology unit, a state-of-the-art burns unit, a fully-equipped high care unit and fully-equipped wards with electric-operated beds.
Hospital chief executive Zecharia Esterhuizen said an estimated population of 50,000 people would be served by the hospital.
The executive manager of Vryburg's department of health, Konrad Motlhabane, said the hospital's location would reduce patients' travelling hours.
"Before, people used to travel for two-and-half hours to get to the hospital; with this one they will travel for less than an hour to get help," he said.
"The hospital needs about 600 staff members. We are more than halfway in our bid to reach that number, with only 333 staff members hired."
Health department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said the hospital had created job opportunities for the community of Vryburg, especially the youth, women and people with disabilities.
Lekgethwane said though the hospital was still functioning as a Level 1 hospital, it rendered specialist services in most disciplines and aimed to be a fully-fledged Level 2 hospital within one year.
He said the old Vryburg hospital was occupied in part by the Naledi sub-district and plans were under way to renovate and use the rest of the old hospital for chronic care.
"The existing Gateway Clinic continues to provide Primary Health Care services to patients staying in the town centre," Lekgethwane said.
MEC for health Magome Masike is expected to officially open the hospital next month.
Community's hospital of hope
HUHUDI resident Boitumelo Senye could not hold back her tears yesterday on noticing improvements after being left semi-paralysed following a stabbing incident a few months ago
After a physiotherapy session at the new Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital, which opened its doors two months ago, Senye has renewed hope she will be able to walk and talk properly again one day.
Senye, 28, was stabbed in the back of her neck in February and was left semi-paralysed.
She could not believe her eyes when she moved her left leg after undergoing physiotherapy at the hospital.
Senye, who also has impaired speech as a result of the stabbing, thought she would never be able to walk again.
"I am still in shock. I thought my future was doomed."
She was thankful to everyone for the help she got from the hospital.
Though not fully operational, the two-storey state hospital built in the shape of a star provides the much-needed tertiary-referral service within the primary healthcare system.
It boasts facilities that are on par with all private hospitals. It is situated 500m south of the old Vryburg Hospital.
The total cost of rolling out the hospital was R247 million. An amount of R151 million went to construction of the building, while R96 million was spent on purchasing the hospital's medical equipment.
The hospital offers all the major services and prides itself in its diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including a Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner that utilises Tele-Radiology, and in the not too distant future, Tele-Medicine.
It also has a digital radiology unit, a state-of-the-art burns unit, a fully-equipped high care unit and fully-equipped wards with electric-operated beds.
Hospital chief executive Zecharia Esterhuizen said an estimated population of 50,000 people would be served by the hospital.
The executive manager of Vryburg's department of health, Konrad Motlhabane, said the hospital's location would reduce patients' travelling hours.
"Before, people used to travel for two-and-half hours to get to the hospital; with this one they will travel for less than an hour to get help," he said.
"The hospital needs about 600 staff members. We are more than halfway in our bid to reach that number, with only 333 staff members hired."
Health department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said the hospital had created job opportunities for the community of Vryburg, especially the youth, women and people with disabilities.
Lekgethwane said though the hospital was still functioning as a Level 1 hospital, it rendered specialist services in most disciplines and aimed to be a fully-fledged Level 2 hospital within one year.
He said the old Vryburg hospital was occupied in part by the Naledi sub-district and plans were under way to renovate and use the rest of the old hospital for chronic care.
"The existing Gateway Clinic continues to provide Primary Health Care services to patients staying in the town centre," Lekgethwane said.
MEC for health Magome Masike is expected to officially open the hospital next month.
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