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Pretoria hospital honours namesake Steve Biko
The Steve Biko Academic Hospital held its inaugural Memorial Day on Wednesday on the hospital grounds to commemorate the life and sacrifice of its namesake, the Black Consciousness Movement Founder, Stephen “Steve” Bantu Biko.
The event was in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) as well as the Steve Biko Foundation, among other partners.
Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena, a medical school classmate of Biko and now the Health Ombudsman, delivered the keynote address.
Hospital CEO Dr Lehlohonolo Majake-Mogoba spoke on behalf of the hospital and Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko was among the speakers.
“Much like a tree planted by streams of water, Biko’s legacy continues to nourish and inspire generations, ensuring that the fruits of his labour are enjoyed long after his passing,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“Steve Biko Academic Hospital is not just a place of healing; it stands as a living embodiment of the values that Steve Biko championed: human dignity, self-reliance, empowerment, and the liberation of the mind.
“His powerful words, ‘the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed’ reminds us that true liberation begins with an awakened consciousness of who we are,” she said.
The MEC said naming the hospital after Steve Biko serves more than just a symbolic gesture but a reminder of the significant role he played during the liberation struggle.
She said the hospital is a national key point and naming it after the fallen freedom fighter also signifies the need to name national heritage sites after the liberators who fought for democracy.
“It is fitting that this institution, dedicated to the health and well-being of our people, carries the name of a man who fought tirelessly for their freedom, dignity, and equality. In doing so, we ensure that his legacy remains vibrant and continues to inspire generations of South Africans in the pursuit of a society rooted in justice, equality, and humanity,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
Nkomo-Ralehoko related the values that Biko stood for to the need to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.
Since its inception, the NHI has faced fierce opposition from groups such as Solidarity and has been the subject of controversy.
The MEC said that the NHI Bill is not only critical for the country’s healthcare system but embodies the values that Steve Biko stood for.
“The NHI is not just a policy, it is a commitment to equitable access, an opportunity to dismantle the leftovers of a system that still, decades after apartheid, divides us between the haves and the have-nots,” she said.
On September 15, the MEC announced that 263 of the 349 primary healthcare centres complied with standards.
She said this demonstrated the province’s progress in ensuring that healthcare facilities are NHI-ready.
The radiology department, ART waiting area, offices for heads of departments, eye clinic, restrooms and triage and casualty waiting area recently received upgrades at the Mamelodi Regional Hospital.
Renovations to Eersterust Community Health Centre, the Dental Unit at Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre and the Tshwane District Hospital’s theatre are also currently underway in preparation for the NHI implementation.
“The journey toward universal health coverage through the NHI is not just a policy goal. It is a moral imperative, one that honours the life and legacy of Steve Biko by ensuring that every person, regardless of their background, can live a healthy and dignified life.
“Let these words of Steve Biko, ‘it is better to die for an idea that will live than to live for an idea that will die’ propel us forward as we steadfastly march towards universal health coverage,” Nkomo-Ralehoko concluded.
Watch here: Memorial Day Video
MEC @NkomoNomantu stated that Steve Biko was a man who spoke about unity, not just as a political goal but as a fundamental principle of social justice. She said in the same way that Biko believed in the unification of oppressed people, the NHI calls for the unification of our…
