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 CH Origins & Mandate
The origins of the Children's Hospital (CH) traces back to a concept paper drawn by NMCF CEO Sibongile Mkhabela. Consideration of the CH Concept Paper by NMCF founding chairman, Nelson Mandela and his wife, Ms Graca Machel led to their endorsement of the concept. Further consideration of the concept by the Board of Trustees of the Fund saw it adopting a resolution giving the proposed Children's Hospital Special Project Status on November 17, 2005 . Added support came from luminaries such as Bishop Tutu, Dr John Howe, President of Project Hope in the USA , Woman Business Pioneer Ms Wendy Luhabe, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Professor Mohale Mahanyele, Bishop Joe Seoka, Archbishop of Buti Thlagale, Archbishop Ndanga Phaswane, and the National and Gauteng Health departments. Growing support for a child-centred facility from various key stakeholders gave rationale to the NMCF Board of trustees giving mandate to management to explore all avenues possible for the desired establishment of the facility by the executive directive of its CEO Sibongile Mkhabela. The Children's Hospital: In the words of our founder Nelson Mandela The year 2007 not only marked the twelfth year of the existence of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF), but also brought us a step closer to the realisation of a dream to establish a hospital for children in Gauteng. Only three children's hospitals serve this continent with its population of 741 million - two in Egypt and one in Cape Town . When compared with countries like Australia , Germany and Canada who each boast 19 or more facilities, this is not enough. Children of Southern Africa have a right to be cared for and receive the best medical treatment available when they are ill. They have a right to receive this treatment in an environment that is safe and caring with uncompromising standards and where the needs of children are top priority always. A children's hospital will be a credible demonstration of the commitment of African leaders to place the rights of children at the forefront. Nothing less would be enough. T he Nelson Mandela Children's Fund has consulted with many stakeholders, both here and abroad, and the response to a dedicated children's facility is a resounding "yes". Government, medical professionals, donors and parents alike all agree that the need is not a luxury, but a vital necessity that can no longer be delayed. This is a call to action to a nation that not only sleeps to dream, but also capable of waking up to meeting the demands of tomorrow. The Fund, under the guidance of its trustees and through the tireless commitment of its CEO, Ms Sibongile Mkhabela, remains a positive motivating force and an obvious platform to take up the challenge to build a hospital dedicated to society's youngest members, the children. I thank you for your commitment to this wonderful initiative and I ask for your continued support as we work together to take one step further in our efforts to change the way society treats its most precious asset - our children. Why a Children's Hospital? There is a marked difference between the health care needs of children and those of adults. Children require health care provision that takes account of this difference in a manner that is focused, responsive and supportive to their physical and emotional maturity. The three children's facilities at the Johannesburg, Chris Hani-Baragwanath and Coronation hospitals all represent their fair share of respective responses to addressing this difference albeit within the constrains. the Children's Red Cross Hospital, in the Western Cape, cannot singularly cope with the national demand since its services are not only limited to South African population of 46,7 million but also extend to the needs of children from across its borders. With child health care demands increasingly showing a southward influx trend, building a children's hospital for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) would be a fitting tribute in the movement of placing children's first. Compared to 23 children's hospitals in Canada , 19 in Australia and 20 in Germany , the plans to establish a second health facility for a combined population of 238,8 million people in the SADC region, constitutes a modest proposition. This proposition enjoys both the unreserved support and a shared deep sense of understanding from sponsors, paediatricians, nurses, eminent practitioners in the field, medical schools and funding partners locally and abroad. Why in Gauteng ? · Gauteng is SA's most densely populated province
· It is both the economic and transportation hub for SA and the SADC region
· It has no facility to compare with children's hospitals: i In Egypt ,
ii The long-established children's Cape Town based Red Cross
iii The Tygerberg Children's Hospital - which is actually a department within the adult Stellenbosch Hospital.
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