REPORT FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Visiting Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
By Quo
Judkins
Soweto, South Africa
The writer was part of a Peoples Video Network
delegation--which also included Johnnie Stevens, Andre Powell
and Sue Harris--that went to South Africa in April to work on
a video about the life and contribution of the late South
African Communist Party leader Chris Hani.
On April 12 our delegation had the honor and privilege to
visit the world's largest hospital. It is the Chris Hani
Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. Vusi Mbasela,
an African National Congress employee, drove us from ANC
headquarters to the CHBH.
We met with the CHBH Head Nurse Peggy Motlhamme.
Delegation member Andre Powell presented the head nurse with
a resolution by the City Council of Baltimore supporting the
right of the South African government to obtain enough
medication to treat the AIDS pandemic at a price the people
can afford.
Motlhamme provided us with an extensive history of the
hospital and its current role in South Africa's health-care
system, which is especially challenged by the AIDS
pandemic.
Though there are many HIV/AIDS patients treated at the
hospital, there is no system of segregation, no ward just for
AIDS patients. Motlamme was quick to point out the malignant
psychological effects of employing a system of segregation.
"This would be harmful to their psyche and wrong, and we must
treat everyone as human beings," she said.
Members of the PVN delegation noticed that the patients,
even those who were sick, seemed to be in better spirits than
would be expected.
Snapshot of history
The hospital was originally a barracks during World War
II. The name Baragwanath comes from the barracks' name.
Injured soldiers were brought to the barracks, and soon
after it became a hospital. Over time it also evolved into a
teaching hospital.
In the post-apartheid era, this hospital has emerged as
the largest in the world, with over 2,000 beds and six wards.
These include maternity, pediatric, and surgical, as well as
St. Johns, a specialized ophthalmology ward with its own
surgical unit.
There are 39 operating theaters or rooms, 5,000 employees
and 500 doctors.
Motlamme directed us to the head of the Casualty
Department, Lucy Shabalala, who gave us a grand tour of the
hospital. We began the tour in the Casualty reception area
where the patients undergo triage--where the decision is made
as to who needs immediate surgery or resuscitation.
We then proceeded to the various wards where we met the
nursing staff and some doctors.
Issues facing the hospital
Shabalala said there is a shortage of staff. That is
partly due to the stress of the long hours needed to provide
adequate coverage and lack of medical resources to treat the
patients.
She paid special emphasis to those workers who have chosen
to stay on despite the difficulties, referring to them as the
most dedicated. They often work through lunch breaks and long
past their shifts to continue follow-up with patients in
critical condition.
Most of the health-care staff is African, although there
were a few white and Indian-origin care-givers.
Shabalala also cited the upcoming renovation project to
expand specific wards such as the Casualty Department, to
move it closer to the main entrance, and a general upgrade of
the hospital.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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