A 48‐beds and 12‐ward ultra-modern Alexandra Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre is on track for completion with construction at 96% ready to change the landscape and health in the area.
The Johannesburg Development Agency, the City of Johannesburg’s implementing agent, undertook the design and construction of this modernised facility to bridge the gap by providing healthcare for chronic, terminally ill patients and rehabilitation for intermediate care patients in Alex.
Located on the corner of Lenin Drive and Far East Bank Drive, the facility with a 48-bed capacity, a frail-care ward and consulting rooms for doctors, physiotherapists, and psychologists, plus a dining and recreational room, and is reaching completion.
There is a garden and wall of remembrance for patients and visitors to sit and share stories. There are also 16 dedicated parking spaces and a drop-off the bay, a guardhouse and a boom gate for access control.
A small vegetable garden has been established on the rooftop. For water supply, there’s a water tank tower for both portable and firewater. The facility also boasts a back-up generator and 114 solar panels to ensure a stable and reliable energy supply to carry out essential services. This modern building has a retaining wall, site reticulation and concrete foundations reinforced with steel for additional strength.
There was a dire need for the Alexandra hospice to service an estimated population of 900 000 residents. The current one operates from an old, deteriorating school building that needs attention.
“It was not only the JDA’s intention to build a facility to provide dignity and medical care for vulnerable residents. Our objective is to undertake public infrastructure projects using local labour to provide employment opportunities to unskilled and semi-skilled workers optimally,” said Sherylee Moonsamy, the Acting Chief Executive Officer at the JDA.
“We are excited that the facility will continue to be managed by the NPO, Alexandra Hospice and Rehabilitation Centre, on City-owned land. The project empowered 14 local SMMEs from the construction phase and now that is close to opening, a total of 89 permanent work opportunities are anticipated when the facility opens,” she added.
17/12/2021