Mbabane: Amid economic challenges by Lidwala insurance company but has been able to spend E350 000 renovating wards 13 and 16 in the Mbabane government hospital.
This initiative is part of the Lidwala Insurance Corporate Social Investments (CSI) and came right at a time when government is faced with serious financial challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Mbabane government hospital has been in a bad condition and media reports had at some point referred to it as a health risk but Lidwala Insuarancehas been able to come to rescue and gave the two wards a much needed facelift.
Speaking during the handover of the renovated wards, in an event held at the Mbabane government hospital, ward 13 manager Khetsiwe Dlamini said the ward has been in a bad condition for the longest time.
Dlamini said the sewage was faulty, there were leaking roofs and maggots were falling from the ceiling. Dlamini said it was during that time that they wrote to many organizations requesting for assistance to renovate the wards and Lidwala Insurance come through to save the situation. She thanked Lidwala Insurance for their kind gesture in treating health matters as a priority.
Lidwala Insurance Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Dlamini said they had treated the situation with urgency taking to account that one of the wards was a female’s ward, which needed urgent help.
Refurbishments
The Ward manager said it took less than month to finish the refurbishment for the wards. The refurbishments of the wards included repainting walls, fixing leaking ceilings installing new LED lighting, revamping showers, installing of nine (9) toilets and installing anti slippery tiles on the floor. The ward beds also got Mattress protectors, Pillow cases, and bedding sheets.
Additional new condition that Lidwala Insurance brought into the wards included Four (4) Samsung 49 Inch Flat Screens mounted at each ward, Two (2) defy fridges for each ward, satellite dish and decoders with twelve (12) months DSTV subscription as well as 1 laptop and printer.
Dlamini noted that Lidwala Insurance made the renovations of the hospital wards during a difficult year as the country is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He encouraged companies to help and contribute in initiatives like these ones.
The Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi, who was also present during the hand over highlighted that the Mbabane government hospital was built around the 1920s and it was now old. She highlighted that since Mbabane Government Hospital was the biggest hospital in the country, people from all corners of the country come to Mbabane for better medical attention. “The hospital has the best doctors and specialists who are stations in here, but the condition of the hospital in some wards is not good. We urge more companies to take leaf from what Lidwala Insurance has done,” said Nkosi. She noted that government alone cannot do all the job alone, which is why companies are encouraged to assist where they can.
Mbabane Government Hospital is the national hospital in Eswatini with over 500 beds. Recently Government has started a construction of a Referral and Emergency Complex. The project is a four-story referral and emergency complex, which includes the construction of a chapel for bereaved families, a 70-body mortuary, a private viewing and waiting area, parking and related facilities, the installation safety and security systems.
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