GQEBERHA- A new R625 Million Military Base Hospital has officially opened at Forest Hill in Gqeberha, marking a major boost for military healthcare services in the Eastern Cape.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane officially opened the state-of-the-art facility on Thursday with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
The modern 30-bed hospital is one of only four military hospitals in the country and is expected to provide comprehensive medical care to South African National Defence Force(SANDF) members, military veterans and their families.
What began years ago as a modest sickbay has now been transformed into a fully-fledged hospital offering primary healthcare services, a 24-hour casualty and emergency care unit, a fully equipped surgical theatre, a modern diagnostic radiology suite, dental services, a full-service pharmacy, a 72-hour admission medical and surgical ward, a paediatric ward, as well as ancillary health and rehabilitation services.
Speaking at the event, Minister Motshekga said the hospital symbolised three decades of growth, adaptation and targeted investment in the wellbeing of soldiers.
“So, my expectation is that we continue to serve them with integrity, with respect, with honour, and honour the role that they play as the defence force in defending this country and putting their lives on the line for all of us,” Motshekga said.
The Surgeon General of the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS), Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Maphaha, said the hospital moves the defence force closer to its vision of building a healthy military community.
“You will understand that when you have a healthy military community and you know what the mandate of the South African National Defence Force is, that will directly translate into the health community of South Africa. Our slogan at SAMHS says ‘Towards Military Excellence’. And I believe this facility moves us a step closer to that,” Maphaha said.
He added that the facility, equipped with advanced technology, would also help reduce the defence force’s reliance on private healthcare and save costs.
“The facility provides advanced technology that will ensure that we provide health services in an effective, efficient and economical way. The economic way is that we need to stop relying on the private sector, where we spend a lot of money,” he said.
The new hospital forms part of government’s efforts to modernise and expand healthcare infrastructure for the defence community.
Photographs: SANDF
Leave a Reply