The Avenues Clinic has reopened its maternity ward and critical care units following an extensive overhaul, marking the latest phase of a hospital-wide modernisation designed to bring its facilities in line with international healthcare standards.
Hospital leaders say the renovation is the latest phase in a multi-floor transformation that has already modernised surgical, medical and private wards.
The focus has now shifted to the third floor, where the maternity ward sits alongside the intensive care unit (ICU) and high-dependency unit.
“We are in this bid to refurbish our hospital so that the infrastructure is in line with everything else that we’re doing,” said General Manager Mrs. Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu at the reopening ceremony.
“We are happy with our clinicians and our nursing staff in terms of the care they are giving. What was left from us was to match that standard of clinical care with the infrastructure.”
The redesigned maternity ward responds directly to patient feedback, Ndhlovu said. After the opening of a private ward elsewhere in the hospital, many new mothers requested private rooms following delivery.
The new layout divides the unit into seven private beds and eight shared beds, offering options for both privacy and affordability.
“We want to believe it caters for all tastes and for all pockets,” Ndhlovu said.
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which treats premature and critically ill newborns, has also been expanded. Four additional beds were added through space reconfiguration to meet growing demand, including referrals from other health facilities.
“We are proud of this unit because of the clinical outcomes that we get,” Ndhlovu said, noting that babies born as early as 26 weeks have been successfully treated and discharged. “That care is available here at Avenues Clinic.”
Chief Financial Officer Mr. Peddy Chigunduru said the hospital has deliberately directed capital toward high-impact areas. Nearly $4 million has been invested so far in infrastructure renewal and new clinical equipment.
“In terms of deployment of capital, we are purposefully and meaningfully deploying capital to the most impactful areas of the hospital,” Chigunduru said.
“The beauty that you see must go in line with the service level that we intend to deploy.”
Of that total, approximately $2.5 million has gone toward advanced medical technology, including specialised neonatal equipment.
Chigunduru said the hospital aims to collaborate with international institutions and position itself as a centre of excellence capable of handling advanced procedures locally.
“Our dream is to make sure the Avenues is the centre of clinical excellence,” he said, adding that investment in infrastructure and equipment must remain “commensurate with global standards.”
Hospital officials indicated that further upgrades are planned as part of the ongoing modernisation effort.
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