Issued by Ministry of Health
9 October 2006
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang today celebrated her 66th birthday at the Johannesburg General Hospital where she is being treated for a lung infection.
The Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is expected to visit Minister Tshabalala-Msimang later this evening to wish her a speedy recovery and a happy birthday.
A number of other dignitaries have visited the Minister since she was admitted to the hospital on Thursday afternoon (October 06).
On Saturday, the Minister was visited by the first lady, Mrs Zanele Mbeki. Other visitors have included the MECs for Health from various provinces and Tshwane Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa.
The Minister also received a number of gifts, flowers and cards with messages of support and well wishes from various sectors and role-players particularly in the health care industry.
On behalf of the Minister of Health, we would like to express our appreciation to all those who have sent messages of support and wished Minister Tshabalala-Msimang well during this period.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang is recovering steadily and is expected to remain at the hospital for another few days. We would like to thank all the staff of the Johannesburg Hospital for the professional treatment and high quality of care and support they are rendering to the Minister of Health and her family.
Notes for the Editors
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang is in the Folateng section of the Johannesburg Hospital. The section was established to attract medical aid patients into government health facilities and raise revenue that is used to improve the rest of the hospital.
Clinical care in this section is rendered by the same team of doctors and other health professionals that treats everyone who visits the hospital.
A number of other government hospitals in the country have implemented this concept leading to major improvement in both the physical infrastructure and the services rendered at these hospitals.
People who are covered by medical aid are encouraged to use these facilities to save on the high cost of health care while receiving high standard of clinical care from well trained and experienced public health professionals
Contact: Sibani Mngadi
Spokesperson for the Minister of Health
0827720161