Paediatric burns unit launched at Baragwanath Hospital
The paediatric burns unit at Bara Hospital is currently the only children’s burns treatment centre outside of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
To improve the care, management, and treatment outcomes of paediatric surgical and burn patients, a newly renovated paediatric unit of R26m, donated by Surgeons for Little Lives in partnership with the Wells Foundation, was officially launched at Bara Hospital on March 27.
This unit is currently the only children’s burns treatment centre outside of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
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The unit has the following benefits for patients:
1. An increase of ICU bed capacity from six to eleven;
2. Twenty-four ward beds, and a shared operating theatre. The unit provides an exceptional service to the community of Soweto, the Gauteng province, and the broader community of Northern South Africa;
3. Improved flow within the unit to minimise hospital-acquired infection;
4. Improved dressing rooms and wards;
5. Space providing for rehabilitative service (OT and physio) and;
6. Provision of public restroom facilities (currently none).
Launched in May 2015, Surgeons for Little Lives is a registered NPO, with a commitment to saving the lives of sick children.
The head of Solid Organ Transplantation, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and chairperson of Surgeons for Little Lives, Professor Jerome Loveland said: “The new unit is not just a medical facility, it is a beacon of hope for the children and families who rely on it. Burns are one of the leading causes of trauma among children and this unit will play a crucial role in saving lives and improving recovery outcomes.
“Through the generosity of the Wells Foundation and our many supporters, we are transforming paediatric burn care. This is a vital development for the broader community and we are incredibly proud to be part of it.
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“This state-of-the-art facility is a great contribution to the Department of Health’s mission to reduce avoidable deaths amongst the most vulnerable in our society, our children.
Professor Adelin Muganza, general surgeon, said: “As the director of the unit at Bara, I am excited to witness the positive impact this newly renovated facility will have on our patients. The upgraded ICU capacity and the introduction of rehabilitative services will drastically improve the long-term care and recovery of children who have suffered burns.
“This unit represents not just an improvement in physical infrastructure but also a great leap in the level of care we can offer and ultimately, in the lives we can save.”
