Eerste River Hospital revamp: Private sector's vital role in healthcare

Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, together with Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers Foundation, celebrated the opening of the refurbished ten-bed overnight ward at the Eerste River Hospital on Thursday, 18 July 2024.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Wenger said, “This new ward, a generous donation by the Gift of the Givers, stands as a testament to what we can achieve when the public and private sectors come together with a shared vision of improving the lives of the most vulnerable among us. It is partnerships like these that remind us that our strength lies in our unity and collective resolve to make a difference, for the people we serve.”

Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Dr Sooliman, said “Gift of the Givers appreciates the excellent co-operation with the WC Ministry of Health over the past several years in our various health related interventions. We congratulate Health MEC, Mireille Wenger, on her new appointment and look forward to a continued warm relationship in the various new interventions earmarked in the period ahead.”

The Eerste River Hospital has already benefited greatly from the partnership between the Western Cape Government’s Department of Health and Wellness and the Gift of the Givers.

Over the past two years, the Gift of the Givers has funded numerous projects at the hospital, including the construction of a new administrative building to house all patient files, the renovation of emergency rooms, and the installation of new ablution facilities in the emergency ward. 

Each of these improvements plays a critical role in ensuring that the Eerste River Hospital continues to provide efficient, dignified, and comprehensive care to the many communities it serves both in Eerste River, and across Cape Town’s northern suburbs.

“Our goal is for every resident of the Western Cape to be healthy, safe, and well in all phases of their lives. It’s no secret that we are battling enormous public budget cuts, and I see the road ahead filled with opportunities for fostering even more partnerships, where collaborations like ours with the Gift of the Givers are the norm, not the exception. Together, we can cut waiting times, drive innovation, deliver more and better care, and create a healthcare ecosystem that is responsive, resilient, and inclusive,” concluded Minister Wenger.