5 days ago
KZN Health unveils plan to upgrade Vryheid District Hospital
A major upgrade is in the pipeline for Vryheid District Hospital, with KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane announcing that the facility will be upgraded to a regional hospital.
The announcement was made on July 11 during the Isibhedlela Kubantu outreach programme, hosted at Cliffdale Sportsfield in Ward 23, Hlobane.
The proposed upgrade aims to improve access to quality healthcare for rural communities, especially those burdened by poverty, long travel distances, and affordability challenges.
MEC Simelane said the initiative forms part of the department's commitment to bringing healthcare services closer to the people and ensuring that no one is left behind due to geography or financial constraints.
'The upgrade of the Vryheid Hospital to a regional facility will result in the facility being equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology and specialist services,' said MEC Simelane.
The move will reduce the burden on the major hospitals such as Ngwelezane Hospital in Empangeni, Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg and Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban. These are currently the only hospitals that offer specialist care for rural communities who have travel long distances to access care.
'It was historically wrong that people in rural areas had to travel for days just to see a medical specialist,' said MEC Simelane.
'It was unjust that only urban populations had access to top-tier medical equipment and clinical experts. We are changing that. Everyone, regardless of where they live, deserves access to decent and dignified healthcare,' she said.
MEC Simelane also assisted with the availability of a mobile clinic in the area, which will come into effect on Friday and every Friday continuously.
The Isibhedlela Kubantu programme is a platform to deliver healthcare directly to communities and promote health education.
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
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