Media Statement: Prince Mshiyeni hospital received a boost with Czech electric beds

Prince Mshiyeni hospital receives a boost with Czech electric beds

Today, 12 December 2011; the Acting Head of the Department of Health Mr Nkatleko Sithole received a donation of 25 beds from the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to South Africa Her Excellency Ms. Blanka Fajkusová at an occasion held at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi. Mr Sithole was standing in for the MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo who could not be present.

Handing over the donation Ambassador Fajkusová said; “Your presence here at this ceremony indicates that you attach importance to more or less modest contribution of my country to the development of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal province in particular, to enhancing the quality of life of its people and to reaching millennium development goals.”

The staff at the hospital ululated and sang in celebration when the beds were unveiled. The donation is a joint project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic with 400.000 CZK, about 174.000 ZAR and by the Czech company LINET with 240.000 CZK, about 104.350 ZAR.

Mr. Sithole read the acceptance speech from the MEC and said; “We have come together today to foster our country’s solidarity for health. No national asset has greater value than a healthy, educated population. Few other investments yield higher rates of return than investment in health and education for all.

“We know that prosperity can bring better health. But we also now know that a healthy population is fundamental to economic growth.”

The beds have been distributed to the Intensive Care, High Care and Short Stay Units of the hospital. They will be able to help the very sick during their stay in the hospital.

The South Africa – Czech Republic relations date back 20 years ago and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal once led a delegation to the Czech Republic to strengthen ties with that country.

The MEC was quoted saying that international solidarity for health has taken on new meaning. He said that the response must be a shared commitment to act together. “International Cooperation ministers from around the world met in Oslo and agreed that health is a pressing foreign policy issue of our time. They said this was because: health can threaten societies; health concerns are key elements of many trade arrangements; protecting health in crises leads to swifter recovery; and health can be a bridge to peace and reconciliation.”

The Hospital Chief Executive Office Professor Rachel Gumbi said they were overjoyed by the gesture and gift to the hospital. “It is adding to our efforts of ensuring that we win back the confidence of the more than 1, 9 million people who are served by the hospital.”

L-R, Mrs N Makhanya, Head of Ministry KZN Health, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to South Africa Her Excellency Ms. Blanka Fajkusová, ting Head of the Department of Health Mr Nkatleko Sithole and Prince Mshiyeni Hospital Chief Executive Office Professor Rachel Gumbi

ENDS

ISSUED BY:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: KWAZULU-NATAL
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
CHRIS MAXON
083 447 2869

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