It was a joyous occasion as Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, and other government officials turned the first sod to effect the birth of the groundbreaking modern Limpopo Central Academic Hospital in Polokwane.
The desolate land, situated a stone’s throw away from the Peter Mokaba Stadium, will soon be turned into the state-of-the-art hospital, which is one of the five flagship academic hospitals around the country.
Equipped with advanced medical technology, the Minister said the hospital will offer cutting-edge diagnostic procedures and innovative treatments.
The project, which was launched during this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day, has been a long time coming since the initial planning of the hospital started in the 2008/09 financial year.
However, Phaahla said he was pleased when a Master Position, which was approved by National Treasury in 2022 was finally approved for the 488-beds hospital.
“This day of laying the foundation for the construction of the Limpopo Central Academic Hospital is a culmination of the work of many years by many people, some of whom are here while others are not.”
The Minister announced that the health facility in association with the health science faculty of the University of Limpopo will produce a significant contribution to health education and research.
“The establishment of a specialist hospital in this province will bolster the health sciences education and training, creating more opportunities for future generations to pursue careers in health sciences.
“The university’s health sciences faculty which houses the medical school, must start concrete plans to attract specialists and super-specialists to train doctors and other health professionals.”
He is of the view that the establishment will reduce Limpopo’s dependence on Gauteng for specialised medical care.
Meanwhile, as a teaching institution, it will also provide valuable educational opportunities for health sciences students ranging from medical students to nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy and more.
The hospital will also offer emergency health services, critical care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ancillary services.
“This will not be an ivory tower, but fragment of a network based on the foundation of primary healthcare.”
Meanwhile, he said the success of the execution is going to depend on cooperation by all the role-players.
The department has assigned the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) appointed as an implementing agent, working with technical professionals of Sakhiwo, and Enza construction company.
“This team is under very strict instructions which were given by President [Cyril] Ramaphosa. He said to me that this must not be another Eskom-like Medupi, where you budget so much and you terminate up spending three or four times more. I assured the President that all those shenanigans will not happen here.”
Minister Phaahla called on the service providers to deliver a quality product, on time and within budget.
“As a result, their mandate is to complete and hand over the keys by Christmas of 2026 to whoever will be the Premier or Minister and when they hand the keys, it must be like the [impressions we saw on the screen].”
At various stages of construction, the department expects to produce about 2 000 jobs and about 2 000 more, once it is fully operational.
However, he cautioned that not everyone will access a job or contract while the hospital is under construction.
“Above all, thousands of lives will be saved every year,” he stressed.
Phaahla thanked the Limpopo government for their cooperation and assistance and former Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who started the process and laid the foundation for this hospital to be built.
“I am bold that if we embrace the spirit of President Mandela; of doing everything for the most vulnerable we can disappoint the naysayers.
“This Limpopo Central Hospital will be one of the pillars to deliver the National Health Insurance. In Madiba’s memory, let us deliver the Limpopo Central Hospital.” – SAnews.gov.za
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