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Media releases

Vodacom Foundation

World-class health centre opened in heart of Hillbrow

Friday, 13 July 2012

Vodacom, along with its partners, today launched the Shandukani Maternal & Child Health Centre in the heart of Hillbrow. The centre is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) which will deliver world-class maternal and child HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) services and is central to Vodacom's commitment to help ensure that more South Africans have access to quality healthcare.

Besides Vodacom, the PPP includes companies Altron and Altech and is run in partnership with the Wits Reproductive Health & HIV Institute  (WRHI), and the Gauteng Department of Health.

"The Shandukani centre is an innovative contribution to urban regeneration in Hillbrow," says Portia Maurice, head of innovation and partnering at Vodacom. "It promises to be a hub of world-class research into HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases and reproductive health."

In addition to the HIV/AIDS and TB care and services, the centre will train health care providers, community workers and researchers as well as conduct world-class research into HIV/AIDS prevention and management, infectious diseases, reproductive health and social sciences.

The centre is situated on the site of the old operating theatre of the former Johannesburg General Hospital in Hillbrow and the building's recent regeneration contributes to the urban regeneration of the area. The once derelict building has been entirely revitalised and is now fully functional.

The Shandukani facility will see over 300 babies being delivered per month. It is estimated that 30% of women attending the clinic are HIV positive, and the center expects to prevent transmission of HIV to about 85 newborns every month. Shandukani will be one of the largest non-hospital based clinics in southern African with 800 consultations each month, excluding deliveries.

This project also embodies Vodacom’s commitment to sustainability; the building is, in every sense, green.  It harnesses the power of natural light, natural materials and systems to reduce energy use, thereby reducing carbon emissions. The centre won the Halala Colosseum Award for Conservation award in the last few weeks.

"We look forward to seeing the centre grow and tracking its progress," says Maurice.



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