Soweto - South Africa's biggest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital situated in Soweto, will now be known as Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
According to the Chairperson of the Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, Molebatsi Bopape, the amendment to the name was made as to reflect the exact and appropriate level of services rendered at the hospital.
The hospital was initially known as Baragwanath hospital and was later renamed after the late South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani.
Speaking on behalf of Gauteng Health MEC, Ntombi Mekgwe, Bopape said: "It is an undeniable fact that the best specialists are trained and practice at this hospital. We are therefore not only a teaching platform for Southern Africa, even developed countries such as USA, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium and Cyprus send their trauma surgeons to receive training at this hospital," she said.
The hospital is renowned as the biggest in the Southern hemisphere comprising of about 3000 beds and provides medical care to more than 3 million people in Soweto, surrounding areas as well as other provinces such as Mpumalanga and North West Provinces.
The achievements of the hospital include among others the groundbreaking surgeries such as the separation of the conjoined Mathibela twins, Mpho and Mphonyana.
According to Bopape, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is the first in the world to perform a toe to thumb transplant.
"Our surgeons are frequently invited oversees to give talks at conferences and this hospital has won world-wide recognition for tertiary services it provides," she said.
Bopape said the hospital will continue to work with universities to expand the medical knowledge platform and will not compromise health care.
At the moment, the hospital has 169 trainee doctors. Bopape added that the hospital will continue to strive for excellence as this will be a fitting tribute to Chris Hani.
"His selflessness inspired many in our country and throughout the world," she said. - BuaNews
