July 2021.
Much-needed medical equipment has been funded and is due to be handed over to the Dora Nginza Regional Hospital in Port Elizabeth, in response to a request by the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health, to help the hospital manage amidst the current pandemic and beyond.
Funded by Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm as part of its Economic Development Programme, the advanced digital mobile x-ray system is highly responsive and easy to manoeuvre, with the advantage of being able to display x-rays immediately, making it of particular importance when treating patients across the wards.
“This equipment was specifically requested by the regions Department of Health as it can be used for a wide variety of different x-rays from small, detailed paediatric needs, to larger adults, so it’s not only for CV-19 patients,” explained Hlengiwe Radebe, Economic Development Director for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.
This hospital, which caters for patients from the Nelson Mandela Bay region, has been at the forefront of the health pandemic, in addition to being the regional centre for specialist obstetric and paediatric services for the western part of the Eastern Cape Province. The radiography department alone, sees in excess of 700 patients a month, which demonstrates the necessity for this type of equipment.
“We manage approximately 750 patients a month, including Maternity High Care, NICU and Paediatric wards, premature babies and Gynaecology wards,” explain Mrs Leona Witbooi, Radiography Department Supervisor at Dora Nginza Regional Hospital.
“We are conscious of the challenges being faced in our communities on various fronts, which has been exacerbated by the health pandemic. In particular, the Provincial health care system, is under enormous pressure, and considering the amount of patients the hospital cares for, we believe that the installation of this equipment will help provide a better service and help medical staff to save lives,” added Radebe.
The equipment is expected to be installed at the hospital next month.