Century-old hospital stands tall

THIS week marks the official move of the Ngwelezana Hospital Pediatric Unit to the Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Regional Hospital (LUWMRH).

The change forms part of a strategy to turn the former maternity hospital into a premier mother and child institution – the first of its kind in the region.

Exclusively dedicated to the care of obstetrical, gynaecological and neonatal patients, the hospital averages about 10 000 deliveries, and performs more than 2000 gynaecological surgery procedures per year.

This is a far cry from its humble beginnings more than a century ago and a testimony to its founders and role players who ensured its survival at the turn of the century.

LUWMRH started as a three-room wood and iron shack in the backyard of the home of Dr GK Moberly in 1912.

The English-born doctor, who was the second District Surgeon of the area, opened a practice in eShowe in 1902 before moving to Empangeni on 9 June 1911.

At the end of the First World War, inhabitants of Empangeni, strongly urged by Dr Moberly, decided that their war memorial would become a hospital.

A hospital committee under the chairmanship of magistrate Col RM Tanner was set up.

The mill subscribed with the ZSM Company donating 259 pounds, the St Lucia Milling Company at Umfolozi River 200 pounds and Sir L Huletts and Sons Limited – 100 pounds.

It was the beginning of a landmark that would stand the test of time for more than 100 years.

The names of the men of Lower Umfolozi who died during the war were commemorated on a plaque while the War Relief Ward stood in honour of the work done by the women of the Empangeni and Umhlatuzi Women’s War Relief Association.

Steeped in historical significance, this age-old hospital could easily have been left to decay, having passed its former glory days.

But through the intervention of the KZN Department of Health and its innovative revitalisation programme, the hospital that first opened in honour of war veterans has exceeded initial goals by evolving into a state-of-the-art health facility.

Serving a population of 2.8 million in the uThungulu, uMkhanyakude and Zululand districts, the current bed availability of 270 will increase to 410 beds in total when the move is completed.

The revitalisation is a wonderful turnaround for the hospital and the KZN Department of Health should be lauded for its forward-thinking plan in reviving this essential monument.