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The Eastern Cape Health Department and the Coega Development Corporation have broken ground on the site for a new TB hospital in Matatiele.
In a joint statement on Friday, the parties said the R302m Khotsong TB Hospital will benefit from both an upgrade and a brand new hospital as part of the Department of Health's three year infrastructure development programme.
The Coega Development Corporation is the implementing agent for the project, which will see a new hospital facility being built on the existing hospital site in Matatiele.
Health MEC, Sicelo Gqobana, says the project the involves demolition of some of the existing structures to make way for the new facility.
"The project involves demolition of some of the existing structures to make way for the new facility and part of the project includes converting the paediatric wards to administration offices to allow the demolition works to commence," said Gqobana.
"The ward conversion will enable the hospital administration functions to continue while the construction works are under way."
The new facility is made up of a 120-bed hospital with general TB and multiple drug resistant (MDR) TB wards.
The CDC said its work with the Department of Health was delivering critical services and facilities to vulnerable people throughout the province, particularly in the rural areas.
"As implementing agent we are at the forefront of delivery for the department and this is in line with our vision to be a catalyst for socio-economic development in the province, thus benefiting the communities through: access to health care, the creation of job opportunities, ensuring training and development take place as well together with the SMME support and development that comes through our infrastructure development programmes," said Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC head of marketing and communications.
