More beds for N West hospitals

2010-02-25 19:03

Mafikeng - North West hospitals will get an extra 535 beds in the 2010/11 financial year, Premier Maureen Modiselle said on Thursday.

"In our health delivery commitments, we are completing projects that will increase our hospital bed capacity with 120 beds in Vryburg, 200 in Moses Kotane and 215 in Madibeng," she said in her state of the province address in Mafikeng.

Modiselle said the province would launch its provincial "know your HIV status" programme on March 21 to encourage people to get tested.

"Our message remains that of abstain, disclosure and partner protection" as well as taking responsibility for your own actions.

Aids council

She would appoint a provincial Aids council to create a strategic centre of intervention that would mobilise province-wide HIV/Aids-related initiatives, leadership and resources.

As part of infrastructure development, Modiselle said the province had opened a new accident and emergency unit at the Job Shimankane Tabane Hospital, revitalised community healthcare facilities in Bojanala Platinum District and created world class sports medical facilities at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

"Tshepong Hospital has been upgraded to create additional capacity for Extreme Drug Resistance [Tuberculosis] and Multi-Drug Resistance TB treatment."

"We have also increased our psychiatric hospital bed capacity with 108 beds at Witrand hospital."

She commended the work of the newly-licensed radiotherapy-oncology unit at Klerksdorp Hospital, which she said was reducing the number of referrals of cancer patients to Gauteng thus accelerating Gauteng reduction strategy.

The unit opened its doors to the first patient in November 2009.

- SAPA