State of the heart unit launch
A new state of the art cardio-thoracic unit, the only one of its kind in South Africa, was officially opened by health and social development MEC, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital in Polokwane last Thursday.
POLOKWANE – A new state of the art cardio-thoracic unit, the only one of its kind in South Africa, was officially opened by health and social development MEC, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital in Polokwane last Thursday.
Acting Pietersburg Provincial Hospital CEO, Dr Thabo Pinkoane, welcomed everyone present. Guests included the head of department, Sipho Kabanem, and Siemens Technology representative, Andrew Forder.
“We are proud to be here today at the official opening of the only unit of its kind in South Africa. In the past, patients had to be referred to Gauteng and could not be treated for heart conditions,” Pinkoane said.
According to Forder, this new facility and technology would raise the standard of health care for people in Limpopo. He added that Siemens was a proud partner of the department of health and social development in this endeavour. “The unit boasts the latest technology with the Siemens Artis Zeego multi-axis interventional imaging system,” he said.
Speaking as she cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, Letsatsi-Duba said this signalled the department’s resolve to reduce the expensive private health care costs that affected people who could not afford them.
The unique hybrid cardiothoracic theatre will allow for angiograms and open-heart surgery procedures.
The unit also includes a specialised post-operative intensive care unit.
“This major medical advancement is made possible with the continued assistance and support of various stakeholders in the private and public sector,” Letsatsi-Duba said.
The new unit will be operational from May 5.
