Mixed reaction over renaming Durban’s King Edward VIII Hospital after ANC struggle heroine, Victoria Mxenge
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King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban
Durban - The move to rename King Edward VIII Hospital by the Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal has come under scrutiny on social media, with some residents questioning government priorities and citing the poor condition of the hospital.
The King Edward is one of the oldest hospitals, with almost a thousands beds attending to thousands of patient monthly.
Owing to its age and lack of maintenance, some of the hospital’s infrastructure has deteriorated and requires major renovations.
The hospital is also a teaching hospital for the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine and it has a nursing college.
While the community has been calling for a revamp of the landmark hospital, the department announced through its Facebook page on Wednesday that it was planning to rename the hospital after ANC struggle stalwart Victoria Mxenge.
In the public notice, the department invited public and interested parties to comment on the name change.
Many took to the comment section of the public notice to vent their views, with many criticising the department for attending to political issues rather than improving the condition of the hospital.
Mxenge, according to SA History, completed a midwifery course at the same hospital and took up service as a community nurse in uMlazi. She later studied law and was subsequently admitted as an attorney.
Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane had indicated in the previous financial year that her department was in the process of renaming the hospital after Mxenge as she had trained at the same facility before she became a lawyer.
Reacting on the notice, some members of the community suggested that the budget for renaming should be reprioritised to upgrade the hospital’s deteriorating infrastructure.
Reshma Rambally said: “Changing its name will make no difference. Use the money to employ nurses and send current nursing staff for upgrading their training to improve their lives as well as towards the standards of the hospital. Stop wasting money on irrelevant things. Our health-care facilities require more nursing staff...”
Sibusiso Shezi commented: “Don't change the name, but employ more staff, improve customer service, buy medical supplies and medical machinery.”
Jackie Govender wrote: “How will changing the name help what matters the most ... the hospital care? Take the same money and invest to improve patient care ... after all, that is the most important thing.”
Anu Anusha said: “Will the name change alter the standard of service? If not, why waste the money? Use money elsewhere like buying equipment that can be used to help doctors and nurses do their work.”
Sbusiso Mzukulu Kadlomo Mhlongo said: “Considering the economic status that we're all in as a country, I just wonder if name changing should be a priority.”
Snothi Snothi said: “Totally against the idea. How much will the costs be from changing signage, etc? Maybe the funds can be used for improving infrastructure and buying equipment.”
The hospital had not responded to questions about how much of the budget would be used for the renaming.
Public comment can be made directly to the hospital, and the public and interested parties have until May 24 to make their comments.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE