By Nangamso Mabindla
1 April 2005

CONSTRUCTION of the R15-million Day Care Hospital in Mdantsane is nearing completion.

The decision to build a day care clinic in the Mdantsane central business district was taken by the city and provincial departments of health after they saw the strain on the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in NU3. That hospital services the 250 000 people in the impoverished township; in addition, patients from Frere Hospital occasionally are sent to Makiwane for treatment.

Thobile Khwakubane, the community liaison officer, said building on the day care hospital started in July 2004 and the state-of-the-art building was expected to be complete in May 2005. Construction was in its second phase - the filling in of beams to support the soon-to-be-erected roof. Strong, facebrick walls are already standing.

"The building of the hospital will play a major role in easing health care problems in Mdantsane and the surrounding areas," Khwakubane said.

The hospital will have waiting rooms for patients waiting to be treated, an intensive care unit, a child care unit and other necessities needed for public hospitals.

"We cannot wait to dedicate this facility to the people of Mdantsane; now they'll have a good hospital right on their doorsteps."

For 70 Mdantsane residents, ranging from brick layers to labourers, the construction also has meant jobs. "When you use residents to build the hospital you give them a chance to take ownership. They will report any incidents of vandalism and other acts that could cause damage to the premises," Khwakubane said.

Among those employed are students from the local tertiary institutions. One of them, Mveleli Kanjela, a fourth-year building engineering student, said working on the construction site helped him to get much-needed experience before heading for the corporate world.

"This is part of my internship as I am getting ready for the working world. I am happy to have been part of this construction team; it is good to give something back to our communities," he said.