Traditional hospital opened at Ingwavuma
INGWAVUMA traditional healer Mxolisi Nkomonde (Dr Mkhulu) made history when he officially opened his private traditional hospital in Bhambanana, Ingwavuma on Saturday.
Dr Mkhulu broke with the practice of traditional healers treating their clients in their consulting rooms.
‘I came up with the idea of a hospital last year and started the registration process with the national Department of Health to ensure that everything I do is within the law,’ said Dr Mkhulu.
The Dr K Traditional Hospital has male and female wards with 22 beds and has the services of three ambulances to collect patients.
‘We also have more than 20 employees such as traditional nurses, chefs, administration personnel and security guards.
‘So many lives have been lost in government hospitals. It is not that these hospitals are not working, but the nature of illness is a factor.
‘I opted to intervene and build a traditional hospital, because western medicine or doctors cannot cure, for example, bewitched patients who end up dying.’
He said he refers all weak patients to Mosvold Hospital to be treated there first.
‘Our ambulances take them to Mosvold Hospital and when they are discharged, we start treating them in the African way.
‘The main focus is to ensure that patients take their medication as prescribed. We monitor their progress to ensure a speedy recovery.
‘The hospital is in a deep rural area and is mostly for poor people,’ he said.
The ceremony was graced by dignitaries from Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, as well as well known maskandi gospel artist, Bonakele Masango.