LISTEN: KZN listeners share memories of the Addington Children's Hospital
The children's hospital is currently being restored and the journey has been beautiful to watch.
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Since we will be visiting the hospital on Friday morning, we asked you to share some of the memories you might have from the hospital.
The KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Hospital (formerly known as the Addington Children’s Hospital) was built in 1928 and was the first hospital for children on the African continent.
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Unfortunately, the hospital was closed in 1984 by the apartheid government as the hospital treated children of all races. The hospital remained closed for an astounding 28 years. Following the hospital closure, the hospital’s seven buildings fell into deep disrepair - windows were shattered, roofs collapsed, pigeons nested in gutters, and squatters moved in for shelter.
You will be happy to know that it has been in the process of being restored since 2013.
Have a look:
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Although a lot of progress has been made in the past eight years, the hospital is only 40% of the way towards completion and roughly R340-million is still needed to complete the project.
Funding is still required to complete the new six-storey Rainbow Tower, the interior of the Old Main Hospital building, the accommodation block, as well as to restore the remaining two buildings on site (Prince’s Wing and the Central Nurses Home).
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You will see and hear all about it tomorrow on our social media platforms and on the radio.
For now, you can help by making a donation here.
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Main Image Courtesy: KwaZulu-Natal Children's Hospital