RMB and FNB facilitate additional high care capacity utilising SPIRE funding

MEDIA RELEASE

27 October 2022

RMB and FNB facilitate additional high care capacity at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital utilising SPIRE funding

A team from RMB and FNB, leveraging parent company FirstRand’s SPIRE fund, facilitated a R26 million project to construct a new medical high care unit and a completely revamped ICU facility, at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital. The facilities, which meet the highest standards for private hospitals in South Africa, were unveiled at a special ceremony last week.

The project included the upgrading of building structures, air conditioning, electrical reticulation and supply of medical gases. In addition to providing funding, the project team which consisted of professionals sourced from FNB and RMB, appointed the contractor, procured equipment, and oversaw the design, construction and commissioning of the units.

Said Dr Lucas Ndhlovu, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital CEO: “The completion of our ICU marks a new dawn for both our ICU and Burns patients. The ICU was located in the Burns Unit prior to the completion of the new ICU. While ICU patients will now be nursed in a brand-new state-of-the-art facility, our Burns patients will finally have an opportunity to get proper care in a space that is suitable for their condition.”

Cutting the ribbon to unveil the new ICU facility funded by FirstRand’s SPIRE fund are Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital CEO Dr Lucas Ndhlovu and FirstRand Chief Operating Officer Mary Vilakazi

The SPIRE project team said it was humbled by the expertise and commitment of the medical staff at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and felt very privileged to support them as they work tirelessly to care for the people of Gauteng and neighbouring provinces.

Together the units contain a total of 26 beds, including four isolation cubicles, and all the required supporting facilities such as nurses’ stations, doctors’ rest areas and storerooms.          

Attendees at the unveiling ceremony celebrate inside the new high care unit (previously Ward 36) funded by FirstRand’s SPIRE fund

The project follows a number of other ICU expansions facilitated by SPIRE during the COVID-19 pandemic, including two ICUs at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, and new ICUs at the Livingston and Dora Nginza Hospitals in the Eastern Cape and King Edward VII Hospital in KwaZulu Natal. 

In total, since March 2020, through the mobilization of SPIRE funding, 130 ICU beds have been added to the public healthcare system with a further 92 upgraded.

End

About SPIRE:

The South African Pandemic Intervention and Relief Effort Fund (SPIRE), was created by FirstRand within days of South Africa entering lockdown in March 2020. An anchor investment of R100 million was committed to SPIRE by the FirstRand Foundation, the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation, FNB and RMB.

SPIRE has been particularly successful in assisting public hospitals by building additional ICU capacity and supplying them with medical equipment, supporting old age homes and providing food to vulnerable communities. As the impact of Covid has diminished, SPIRE continues to support the public healthcare sector both as a funder and implementation partner for other donors. 

About Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital:

Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) was first built as a district hospital in 1972. It was later reclassified to a regional, and then to a central hospital. However, the infrastructure was never upgraded to meet the standards of reclassification. As such, the hospital has never had a dedicated medical high care/ICU facility. This changed, however, when FirstRand Spire Fund provided the funding to convert Ward 36 (a normal medical ward) into a state-of-the-art high care/ICU facility for medical patients, complete with an isolation area that meets all the international standards. This was the first proper isolation room in the hospital.

Contact:

FirstRand SPIRE:

Sam Moss l sam.moss@firstrand.co.za

Dr George Mukuhari Academic Hospital:

Amelia Sebolecwe l amelia.sebolecwe@gauteng.gov.za

Zwide Ndwandwe l zwide.ndwandwe@gauteng.gov.za