New 224-bed Siloam Hospital to boost Vhembe healthcare
The R1.37b facility reached practical completion on August 3 and will offer modern theatres, a maternity unit, a therapeutic pool and isolation wards.
LIMPOPO – The MEC for Finance, Kgabo Mahoai, has expressed satisfaction with progress made in the construction of the new Siloam District Hospital, a R1.37b healthcare infrastructure investment funded by the National Department of Health.
The 224-bed hospital, which will expand access to health services and introduce new specialised units with further employment opportunities in Vhembe, reached practical completion on August 3.
Oversight visit by provincial leaders
Mahoai visited the project last Wednesday as part of the exco infrastructure development cluster oversight programme, of which he is chairperson, following a directive by the Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, to monitor key infrastructure projects across the province.
He was accompanied by the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Bella Kupa, senior government officials and Eskom officials.
Theatres, maternity unit and therapeutic pool
The 224-bed hospital will change how healthcare services are delivered in Vhembe.
It provides dedicated services and modern theatres, a comprehensive maternity unit with separate areas for antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care and mothers requiring specialised attention, dedicated outpatient departments and allied health services, a therapeutic pool and infectious diseases ward with isolation facilities.
Specialised systems installed
The hospital has been fitted with specialised modern infrastructure including medical gas systems, clinical compressed air, ventilation systems and a central sterile supply department.
Its industrial laundry machinery has been installed, while the fully equipped kitchen is progressing towards operational training.
The therapeutic pool has also been completed.
Local workers and businesses benefit
The project is already contributing to the local economy: 2 275 jobs created since inception, and 255 formal training certificates issued to locally based workers and more than R261m injected into local SMMEs.
More posts once fully operational
The introduction and expansion of clinical, technical and support units will also require more personnel once the hospital becomes fully operational, creating further opportunities while strengthening healthcare capacity in the area.
MEC links project to skills and access
The MEC said the new Siloam Hospital represents an investment not only in healthcare infrastructure but also in local economic participation, skills development and improved access to healthcare services for communities in Vhembe.
