The project at Weskoppies Hospital resulted in the prestigious South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Award being awarded to Servest Multi Service Group, which was responsible for all the work carried out at the hospital. Managing Director of Servest Multi Service Group, Terry van der Riet, said the new outdoor environment had the potential to significantly improve the children’s perception of themselves and the way they were perceived by others.  

The work at the Weskoppies Hospital included the following:

• Sufficient eating areas to enhance the areas in use
• Removal of dead palm trees and invader trees
• Installation and maintenance of automatic irrigation systems
• Pathways and walkways to facilitate pedestrian movement
• Provision of shade structures
• Recreational facilities at the children’s wards

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Weskoppies Hospital, Mrs Maureen Mabena, the landscape revamps have revitalised the institution and improved its image. She said the project brought about a drastic change to the environment which had been unkempt for a long time due to budgetary constraints. “These gardens have transformed the hospital and will not only help with the therapeutic healing processes of the children, but will also assist in improving the morale of the staff. The effect of these gardens is somewhat contagious”, she said emphatically.

The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Gerhard Lindeque, reiterated the same sentiments regarding the gardens. His faculty has been in partnership with Weskoppies Hospital for the past 60 years, and has constantly reviewed the ways in which they can contribute to the hospital to improve the clinical training of the University’s students.

“These facilities have created a lot of free movement for the patients, especially the children, who have experienced attitude changes. We have learned from the hospital that the children’s stay at the hospital has been shorter because of the influence of this new environment”, he said.

Prof Lindeque congratulates a team from Servest Multiservice Group, on their achievement by scooping three awards in this year's South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Awards

 
 The unveiling function was held at one of the beautifully revamped gardens in front of the hospital.




 Another part of the hospital which received a facelift