​By Shaun Maluleke
 
The newly opened Research Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) is set to provide health professionals and academics a platform to conduct ongoing research on childhood cancer and blood disorders.
This comes after MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko together with the founder of the Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation, Daphne Mashile-Nkosi handed over the first of its kind oncology research centre to the hospital on Wednesday, 10 April 2024. 
The centre will provide a platform for education, policy development and advocacy for childhood cancer, ensuring continuous improvement in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancers and blood disorders.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said that the openingof the facility marks an important milestone in the ongoing journey towards excellence in health care and medical research. 
"The establishment of this Research Centre is a clear indication of our commitment to staying at the forefront of medical research and education. It is a place where ideas can flourish, where knowledge is shared, and where solutions to some of the most challenging health issues are sought.
"The focus of this centre on childhood cancer and blood disorders is particularly significant, as these are areas where ongoing research is crucial for improving treatment outcomes and ultimately saving lives," said the MEC. 
The centre will also serve as a library to store material produced in the hospital for future use. It will be used by researchers and professors from the University of the Witwatersrand to conduct their ground-breaking research that will benefit the global medical community.  
The centre was made possible through the generous support of the Stanley and Daphne Nkosi Foundation which has established the Zakithi Nkosi precinct at the hospital which offers oncology services to thousands of paediatrics and adult patients from across the country. 
Mashile-Nkosi said that CHBAH stands as a beacon of hope and symbolise resilience, so it was fitting for it to have a research centre that solely focuses on bringing change in the health care system. 
"It is within these walls of this hospital that we have the opportunity to effect real change. Let us take this opportunity to work as a collective to make a difference and leave a legacy of compassion and excellence. Together we have the power to transform our health landscape," said Mashile-Nkosi.