The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto (CHBAH) has become one of only two hospitals with a dedicated children's burns unit after the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town.
This comes after Surgeons for Little Lives, an NGO dedicated to children's healthcare needs, in collaboration with the Wells Foundation and the provincial Department of Health unveiled the refurbished, state-of-the-art paediatric burns unit, which comes with an increase in the number of ICU beds, ward beds, and shared operating theatre, among some of the amenities.
The R26 million facility was made possible through a donation by Surgeons for Little Lives, which now elevates the work of one of the country's biggest and world-renowned hospitals.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital and the provincial government, acting CEO at CHBAH, Dr Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo, remarked that over and above the nine strategic priorities of the provincial government, the new facility makes it a much better experience working with children whose lives depend on the positive spirit of its healthcare workers.
"Who would not smile working in such a beautiful facility? We would like to thank the funders and the donors who have made this day possible. Having a dedicated ICU for burn patients makes this a very unique experience. This is in line with the vision of the provincial department in its quest to provide quality healthcare as well as the department's nine strategic priorities, one of them being to serve with a smile," she said.
Dr Derrick Harrison, head of paediatric surgery at Wits, who joined the hospital in 2009, indicated that the road to realising this facility has been a long and fulfilling journey, which has culminated in a much better facility.
"Just a few years ago, we had fewer resources and everyone was squashed. All our nursing staff were exhausted and overworked, but in a few years, the concept took form, resulting in the refurbishment of the children's unit.
"Fast forward to 15 years, our unit now has improved ICU beds and a dedicated staff. We have forged ahead and are now better equipped to ensure collaborations with our adult facility, and we are in discussion to ensure better research work," he said.