​A new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has finally been appointed at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital as part of efforts to improve leadership and governance at the facility. 
Dr Arthur Manning, who has been temporarily steering the ship until the appointment of a permanent CEO, commenced duties on 1 April 2024.
Manning has over 25 years of experience as a manager in the healthcare sector. He has occupied senior roles in the public and private sectors and holds an MBBCh degree from Wits, a Certificate in Hospital Management from Wits Business School, and has just completed a post-graduate diploma in Public Health.
The appointment of the new CEO for the facility is part of responding to the Health Ombudsman's recommendations after making findings against the facility. 
While the appointment is one of the several recommendations by the ombudsman, MEC for
Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has indicated that a number of the recommendations have already been finalised while the others are being implemented.
"We have strengthened the Head of Department's oversight of hospitals, reviewed the hospital's staff establishment, ensured the monitoring of the Hospital Board, development human resource capacity, established a discharge lounge to accommodate discharged patients awaiting relatives and taken disciplinary action against officials.
"We are confident of Dr Manning's commitment to provide leadership and ensure high service standards and the provision of quality healthcare to patients, " stated the MEC.
The  maintenance projects that have been completed to stabilise the hospital include the sewer line diversion to open channels, waterproofing of hospital roof to address leakages, repairing hot water leaks and serviced calorifiers, servicing of generators, flooring of Wards 5, 6 and 15, and painting of the Emergency Department and the ground and fourth floor, and paediatric outpatient rooms. 
The MEC also said that the Department has made funds available for the refurbishment of the hospital and has appointed a contractor to implement the project. 
"The necessary infrastructure assessments for the urgent works have been completed, and the process of appointing contractors for the urgent works is underway.
"Some of the interventions are longterm in nature, however, we remain committed to follow through on the recommendations by the Health Ombudsman," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.

Photo: Neo Phashe