AKESO PMB CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Akeso Mental Health Facility in Pietermaritzburg is celebrating its 10th anniversary this March. That means a decade of mental health care and healing that has touched thousands of lives.
Nerasha Singh, general manager of Akeso, said the facility strives to bring hope to the community even on the darkest days and to help individuals get back to their daily lives when this may seem like an insurmountable challenge. “We are most grateful to be marking 10 years of hope through making mental health care and support more accessible for the people of Pietermaritzburg and surrounding communities,” said Singh.
“We see extraordinary courage, strength and resilience each day on the journey with our patients, and it is incredibly rewarding to see the countless personal victories and success stories of their progress,” she said.
Established in 2011 at a former guesthouse, The Gables, on Woodhouse Road, Scottsville, Akeso Pietermaritzburg was among the first in Akeso’s network of mental health facilities to be established.
Akeso became part of the Netcare Group in 2018.
The facility provides in-patient care for persons with mental health concerns, including major depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar mood disorder, trauma and personality disorders.
A multi-disciplinary team of medical and healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, medical doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and registered nurses, care for patients in a safe and supportive environment to aid in their recovery.
Akeso Pietermaritzburg also offers outpatient programmes including consultations with psychiatrists, psy-
“The greatest glory in living is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
“Good health shapes an expression of experiences.” ~ Arif Naseem
chologists and occupational therapists, and post-discharge support groups for patients and their families.
Singh thanked the team of healthcare professionals at Akeso Pietermaritzburg for their valued support over the years. “Many of the dedicated practitioners and staff who are practising here today have been with us since our first year and have been instrumental in helping to grow specialised mental healthcare capacity in the province. Psychiatrists Dr. Pravesh Kassen, Dr. Dan Moodley, Dr. Brunhilde Grobler and Dr. Maria Dobreva, as well as the late Dr. Rosemary Mason, practised at Akeso Pietermaritzburg since 2011,” she said.
Singh also expressed appreciation to the staff members, many of whom have worked at Akeso Pietermaritzburg for many years, for their dedication and commitment to quality patient care. She recognised the long service of enrolled nursing auxiliary (ENA) Casuandra Abrahams, registered nurse Zanele Duma, ENA Sibahle Mkhize, groundsman Mdu Mthembu, case manager Lizelle Reynders, receptionist Lata Singh, enrolled nurse (EN) Connie Swartz and, from the housekeeping team, supervisor Beulah Rudman and assistants Patricia Motsoane and Happy Khumalo.
“Akeso Pietermaritzburg started with 30 beds and we have since almost doubled that to serve the growing demand for mental health services in our area. We look forward to many more years of serving the Pietermaritzburg community’s mental health and wellbeing needs. Mental health and wellbeing should be a priority at all times. We are here to help, and there is no need to wait until crisis point to reach out to us for professional help,” Singh concluded.