Home 
Media Room latest news
Media Room latest news
|
Ilitha attends the Launch of the new Red Cross Children’s Hospital Operating Theatre Complex The new Operating Theatre Complex at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital officially opened its doors on Wednesday the 16th September 2009. The occasion was commemorated with a grand opening; an event that Ilitha had the honour of attending. Ilitha continues to support the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital by means of monthly donations to the Children’s Hospital Trust and we are extremely happy and proud to have been able to contribute in some small way to this fantastic and very worthy cause.
“Today is a special day for all of us. We all made it possible in our own way to build the complex with a vision and a passion”, said Nicky Bishop. The R125 million needed to build and fully equip the new complex was made possible through successful campaigns powered by The Children’s Hospital Trust. At the opening Dr Dimitri Erasmus described the ‘Brick for a child’ campaign as “more than an investment in bricks and water, but rather an investment in human capital.” It is through this investment by donors that the hospital is able to provide world-class health services to save the lives of little children. The new operating theatre complex, named the Lolo Wing, an isiXhosa word for a loving or cherished child, has eight fully equipped operating theatres. Each theatre is designated to a sub speciality; Emergency & Septic Orthopaedics, Burns, Neurosurgery & Spinal Orthopaedics, General Endoscopic, Urology and Plastics, Cardiac, Ophthalmology and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) & Scopes Theatre. Three of the theatres are fully digitalised. The new complex also includes a new dedicated Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, a Central Processing department and a Pain Management Unit. The launch included a live crossing to the operating theatre complex, where surgeons shared information on the new digital equipment and then guided the audience through a demonstration surgery on a yellow pepper. This form of surgery is referred to as minimal invasive or keyhole surgery and is said to minimise the pain experienced by the children as well speed up the healing process. Using the same method as the yellow pepper demonstration, medical students and colleagues throughout South Africa, Africa and the World are able to view surgeries in real time. This allows for improved teaching and learning for the improvement of care for children requiring surgery. The heart-warming speech given by a Vinolia Naidoo, a former patient who underwent a liver and kidney transplant at the age of 11 in 2001, surely put a tear in everybody’s eye. The fact that she is alive today is described by many as a miracle. “It more than a miracle, it is combination of love, skill and dedication of the doctors,” said Vinolia. Premier Helen Zille concurred and praised the Red Cross War Memorial Hospital for “pioneering innovation and skill.” Quoting Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, Nicky Bishop said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” The management and staff of Ilitha are proud to be a part of the small group of thoughtful people who can make a difference in changing the lives of Children in South Africa and Africa. By means of our monthly donations we are delighted to have ‘helped unlock world-class surgery for children at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital’ and we will continue to support this worthy cause. |
||||||
