Official Newsletter of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital December 2012

CEO’s Desk 1

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Waste Management 5

CPSI Awards 4

16 Days Activism

Cover Page

SNIPPETS IN PICTURES

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D ear Staff and Well-wishers, the end of another year has come so soon. One often feels this way when one is kept con-stantly busy. And so has this been the case at MGMH.

Great strides have been made in terms of patient care. We are achieving the objectives of the Depart-ment in terms of its priority areas. Our theme of “Back to Basics: Patient Safety First” is bearing rewards.

The number of adverse events has been markedly reduced. Nurse staffing has been improved. It is still dif-ficult to recruit and retain our doctors. Perhaps the workload is a daunting fac-tor.

We have faced challenges as well, but as a hospital, we were able to overcome most of them .The major challenge that we have is that a few staff have poor discipline and do not adhere to the code of conduct of the Public Service .

Once all of us can embrace

ethical behavior and under-stand that patient care comes above all else, be you a cleaner, HR officer or doctor, our hospital will stand out as one to be emu-lated.

May I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your contributions in making our hospital a better experience for the community we serve.

I would also like to wish you and your family festive blessings. Let us rest when we can so that we can tack-le the New Year with re-newed vigour.

Quality Day 2012 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

World Aids Day 3

Recipe

Recipe 9

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Editorial 2

Dr. Prakash Dayaram - Chief Executive Officer

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I t is a great honor to meet in this publication. Firstly, may I have to thank all the staff who are working very hard to achieve the vision, mission and the core values of our hospital against all odds. It is now the start of the festive season and it is the time whereby families share gifts, good times and good memories together. It is also important to share what we have with those who have noth-ing to eat during this festive season. Enjoy yourselves in this festive season, but also don’t forget that there is still a future ahead. Please don’t abuse alcohol and drive and please abstain from sex or use a condom to protect yourself. Con-doms are available at all our health insti-

tutions for free, so there is no excuse. Also remember that the choices you make today will determine your future. Our component, Public Relations has worked tirelessly to reduce the number of negative complaints about the hospi-tal. We have managed to reduce the number of complaints as we had re-ceived only 1 complain for the past two months. We have also provided an effi-cient media liaison function as it is cur-rently rare to see any negative media reports about our hospital as it was pre-viously. Our hospital hosted a successful World Aids Awareness Day to aware clients and to remember those who have passed away due to this epidemic. Our Social Work Component hosted a suc-cessful 16 Days of Activism against Abuse of Women and Children, so it is

imperative to love and protect them. We also hosted a successful Quality Day to improve the services we render to our clients. Our Pharmacy Component also made us proud when they scooped two important trophies during the 10th annu-al awards function of the Centre for Pub-lic Service Innovation (CPSI). Happy Christmas and Prosperous 2013 MR. S.V. NGCOBO - PRO

Mr. S.V. Ngcobo - PRO

DEATHS

I t is with sadness to announce the lost of one of our colleagues, Ms. N. Qelile : PN - Labor Ward, who passed away in November 2012

M ay her soul rest in peace !

I will love, respect and cherish my family

I will guide my family by God’s grace

I will teach my brothers, sisters, daughters and sons to follow God

I will take responsibility to protect my spouse/partner, family and community

I will ask God to break the chains of disruptive behavior in my family and com-munity

I will mentor others and show them the right direction in life

I accept this responsibility and it is my privilege to embrace it.

I will !! I will !! I will !!

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M ahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospi-tal Philakahle Clinic commemorated World Aids Day on the 5th of December 2012. The aim behind this day was to make people aware of how to live positively with HIV and AIDS and ways of preventing and contracting the dis-eases. This was also a very important day as the audience was encouraged to do VCT so that they will know their status. They were also en-couraged to adhere to their ART treatment. The theme of the day was, “ Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections & Aids Deaths”. This day started with a moment of silence to remem-ber those who are infected and affected by this scourge and there was also lightening of the candles to give hope to them. Philakahle Clinic staff also played an educational role play to bring awareness to the patients. This event ended with a march from Philakahle Clinic to various compo-nents of the hospital. The management would like to thank the staff, patients and those who contributed to ensure the success of this day. 1. Sister S.Z. Mayeza lightning the candle during the event. 2. The audience holding candles as a sign of remembrance for the HIV/Aids victims. 3. Sister S.Z. Mayeza delivering a speech during the event. 4. The march to fight HIV/Aids epidemic. 5 & 6 Sister S.Z. Mayeza with Philakahle Clinic staff during the event. 7. The audience listening attentively to speeches of the day.

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MM ahatmaahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospi-tal Pharmacy Depart-ment has raised the KZN Flag High by receiving two awards during the 10th annual awards func-tion of the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on Friday 2 November 2012. The first award was for the “Cubicle dispensing system at MGMH” which achieved 3rd runner up

position in the category of “Innovative Enhance-ments of Internal Sys-tems of Government”. This concept was intro-duced to the Pharmacy by Mr. C. Shabalala and was implemented in 2010. This has assisted in reducing the waiting time for medicines at pharmacy. The second award was for the “Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal program” that has been implemented at the hospital. This in-volves the proper and safe disposal of pharma-ceutical waste using a database program called

“Exp-med”, designed by ex-Chief Pharmacist, Mr. S. Persad. This program received an award for 1st runner up in the category of “Innovative use of In-formation and Communi-cation Technology (ICT) for effective service deliv-ery”. As finalists for the awards, Pharmacy Man-ager, Mrs. Meena Hanu-man and Assistant Man-ager, Mrs. Kershri Moodley attended a two day “Innovation Work-shop” and the Awards function.

Left to right: Ms Thuli Radebe (CEO – CPSI), Ms Ayanda Dlodlo (Deputy Minister: Public Service and Administra-tion), Mrs Kershri Moodley: Assistant Pharmacy Manager), Mrs Meena Hanuman (Pharmacy Manager) and Mr. Chose Choeu (Director: Corporate Affairs: Eskom)

Left to Right: Mrs Kershri Moodley (Assistant Pharmacy Manager) and Mrs. Meena Hanu-man (Pharmacy Manager) holding trophies.

MAHATMA GANDHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PHARMACY DEPARTMENT RAISES KZN FLAG HIGH

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Ms. S. Mdluli

Here is an Inter-view conducted by the PR Com-ponent with our Waste Manage-ment Officer

P.R : What experience would you like to share with us since you joined MGMH ? S.M : MGMH has been home away from home for me. So I would walk down the corridor I would meet a neighbor or someone who knows me from my childhood. I love the fact that I can make a difference and help improve the hospital for future generations. The staff are friendly and have been welcoming. I am happy to join the MGMH family. PR : What qualifications do you have and when did you obtain them ? S.M : I am an Environmental Health Practitioner, I obtained my Environmental Health National Diploma at Mangosuthu Technikon In 2002. After 2 years working in South Africa I then decided to go abroad and explore what was happening on the other side of the world. While in the United States of America, I obtained a Nursing Ass. certificate and worked there as an ENA. I then relocated to the United

Kingdom also worked as an ENA and Support Worker. I obtained an Advanced Diploma in Project Management at the Oxford College and an Advanced Diplo ma in HIV/AIDS and STI prevention at the College of Venereal Diseases in London. Upon returning to South Africa I obtained a B.Tech in Strategic Public Management at UNISA. I am currently studying towards a Masters in Business Leadership at the School of Business Leadership (UNISA). P.R : Tell us about your career history and what drove you thus far ? S.M : As mentioned earlier I have worked abroad but there is certainly no place like home. I am a very adventurous individual who loves a Challenge. When I heard that Department was looking to hire Waste Management officers, I thought that would be a nice challenge, since it was an entirely new vacancy and I would be responsible in developing policies and transforming the entire waste management within a health institution. P.R : What fascinates you about your job? S.M : That’s a funny question because I deal with waste and that means opening up bins to check if correct segregation has been adhered to. I love wearing heels so you can imagine….a lady in heels and digging into bins. That’s fascinating! But also I love being a part of a team that wants to make our hospital look like a hospital. P.R : Please outline your achievements that you have attained since you have joined MGMH ? S.M : I joined MGMH on the 1st of June 2012 So I'm on my 6th month and its been a lovely experience thus far. I started by making changes at our entrance. Our entrance had overgrown shrubs and didn't have any bins. So working with the municipality, the shrubs and grass are maintained on a regular basis and pole bins have been provided for pedestrians to dispose their dirt in them instead of the floor. Bins were also placed at the hospital taxi rank as well as portable toilets.

The traders trading at our gate, now have trading permits and will soon receive formal structures to work in. This has certainly uplifted the face of our hospital.The shortage of sharps containers has been resolved and now the hospital follows a 1- 4- 1 system. Recycling and training has been a huge part of my duties I have been trying to change the mindset of staff to save our environment by recycling. All offices now have paper recycling boxes, this also brings in revenue for our hospital.Formed partnership with DSW, to train and hold information sessions at our hospital There is also a lot of work to do, and this could be achieved with teamwork! P.R : Tell us about your family and apart from work what do you do on your spare time ? S.M: I was raised by my grandmother and mother, with my brothers and cousins. I don't have any children and I am single but not available. In my spare time, I either go to the gym, visit friends and family and participate in a lot of church activities. I love reading and travelling.

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“BACK TO BASICS, PATIENT SAFETY FIRST”

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M ahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital celebrated Quality Day on the 27th of November 2012 as November is the quality month as per our Health Calendar. The purpose of the day was to identify service delivery gaps through constant monitoring and thus ensuring improvements of these gaps to ensure that we render quality health services to our clients. The purpose of the day was also to present few, of many quality improvement projects from various components implemented within the hospital during the year 2011 / 2012 and thus acknowledge and reward their innovative ideas. This is really a day of excellence whereby employees who have worked hard and consistently throughout the year are being rewarded. The theme of the day was, “ Back to basics, Patient Safety First”. This was in accordance with the National Core Standards and the Minister’s six priority areas. The quality improvement project winners for 2012 : 1st Position - Pharmacy component 2nd Position - Dietetics component 3rd Position - Casualty component Each and every department that took part in the quality day was commended with a certificate. 1. Dr. P. Dayaram doing a welcoming note during the

event. 2. Mrs. W.I. Pillay (Quality Manager) outlining the purpose

of the day. 3. The Judges led by the Ethekwini District Quality Man-

ager, Mrs. N. Ngcobo with the SMT Members. 4. Pharmacy Manager, Mrs. M. Hanuman with her team

receiving their 1st Position Award from Mrs. N. Ngco-bo (Ethekwini Distr. Quality Manager).

5. The Dietetics component receiving their 2nd Position

Award from (from right) Mrs. N. Ngcobo, Mrs. I.W. Pillay & Dr. C. Persad.

6. Casualty Component receiving their 3rd Position

Award from (from right) Mrs. N. Ngcobo, Mrs. I.W. Pillay & Dr. C. Persad.

7. X-ray component receiving their Certificate of Com-

mendation from Dr. C. Persad (Medical Manager ) 8. Ward 8 component receiving their Certificate of Com-

mendation from Dr. C. Persad (Medical Manager ) 9. Maternity component receiving their Certificate of

Commendation from Dr. C. Persad (Medical Manager ) 10. MOPD Component receiving their Certificate of Com-

mendation from Dr. C. Persad (Medical Manager )

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M ahatma Gan-dhi Memorial Hospital Social

Work component has em-barked on an campaign of the 16 Days of Activism of no Vio-lence against Women and Children from the 26th to the 29th of December 2012.

This is the global campaign that takes place every year from the 25th of November to the 10th of December 2012. The theme for this campaign

Home to Peace in the world”.

The aim of this campaign was to challenge the perpetrators of such violence to change their behavior, to involve all stakehold-ers in eradicating it and also to provide survivors with information on services and organization that lesson the impact of such vio-lence on them. Advice/information desk, showing of Soul City DVD to patients, writ-ing of messages on a big T-shirt and a march marking the role of eradicating such violence were amongst the activities of the day. The march was supported by members of the SAPS and dele-gates from Brothers for Life and it ended with a formal programme,

which comprised of speeches, music and lunch.

The highlight of this programme was when all men who were pre-sent adopted a message from the t-shirt, and also read a pledge titled “courageous men” which was aimed at committing men to no violence against wom-en and children. The management would like to send its gratitude to all who par-ticipated and contributed to the success of this campaign.

was, “From Peace in the

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1. The march against abuse

on Women and Children during the campaign.

2. The lady from Phoenix

SAPS showcasing the victim of physical abuse during the campaign.

3. Men committing them-

selves by reading a Coura-geous Men Pledge during

The campaign 4. Mr. Clifford Gcwensa and Mr. Nhlanhla Vezi from KZN. Brothers For Life.

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ROAST LEG OF LAMB

INGREDIENTS 2kg leg of lamb 4 cloves garlic- cut into slivers 30ml olive or sunflower oil 5ml fresh or dried rosemary 5ml mustard powder 30ml flour salt and milled pepper to taste 500ml water METHOD Wipe lamb with a vinegar-soaked paper towel and pat dry. If you don't have a meat thermometer, weigh the lamb and calculate the roasting times. Allow 20 minutes for every 500 g meat, plus 15 minutes extra at the end for medium-rare lamb, and allow 25 minutes for every 500 g meat, plus 15 minutes extra for well done. DIRECTIONS Using a sharp knife, make slits all over the lamb. Press garlic slivers deep into the slits. Pat all over with oil, rosemary, mustard flour, salt and milled pepper. Place lamb, fat side uppermost, on the rack of the roasting pan. Add the water to the pan. Cover the pan loosely with aluminium foil, dull side out. Roast the meat for 20 minutes at 180 ºC. Remove the foil and continue roasting for the calculated times (see above). If you are using a meat thermometer, place the thermometer in the thickest part of the leg, making sure that the tip of the thermometer does not touch the bone. The thermometer will register 70 ºC when the lamb is medium-done. 80-85 ºC when well done. Remove the meat from the oven and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Add more salt, if necessary. Carve the meat, using a sharp carving knife and a sturdy fork to anchor the meat (see tips).

TRY IT,

IT IS SO

DELICIOUS

INGREDIENTS 1 pt green jelly 1 pt red jelly 1 tin pears or peaches 1 swissroll (bought or home made) Jam or Chocolate sherry or rum to taste 2 cups thick custard 1 cup pecan nuts - crushed 125ml cream glazed red cherries - chopped (to garnish) PREPARATION Dissolve jelly according to package, separately. Leave overnight to set. Drain pears or peaches - keep syrup. Cut in pieces. Cut Swiss roll and line a round glass dish with 1/2 of cake. Sprinkle over some fruit syrup as well as some sherry or rum. Cut jelly in small blocks and spoon over some green jelly. Spoon over a layer of custard and some fruit and nuts. Spoon over some of the red jelly. Repeat layers with cake, green jelly, custard, fruit, nuts and red jelly till all finished. Beat cream till thick and garnish trifle with cream and red cherries.

TRIFLE

TRY IT,

IT IS SO

DELICIOUS

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PUBLIC RELATIONS. OFFICER MR S.V. NGCOBO COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER MRS. R. THOMAS

PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN

MS. H.P. MNGANGA

TE L: O31-502 1719 (EXT 2173)

sibonelo.ngcobo2 kzn-health.gov.za

NEW RECRUITS JOIN THE GANDHI TEAM

NAME

RANK

Dr. M.V PERUMAL MEDICAL OFFICER

R. MUSTAPHA GENERAL ASSISTANT

N.H THABEDE NURSING ASSISTANT

H.P.H DLAMINI ENROLLED NURSING ASSISTANT

B . ZUMA PROFESSIONAL NURSE

M.E MAAKE

OPTOMETRICS

N . AMOD MEDICAL OFFICER

M.J.G ZONDI

PROFESSIONAL NURSE

C.R.Z. MAJOLA PROFESSIONAL NURSE

L.F. MTHETHWA SUPPLY OFFICER

N. GALEKA PROFESSIONAL NURSE

N. LUSHABA H.R. OFFICER

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

www. Kznhealth.gov.za/mahatmagandhihospital.htm