The Aselsan ventilator handover to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, located in the Eastern Cape, took place on 13 August 2024 at the offices of Aselsan in Pretoria.

The ceremonial handover included H.E. Ayşegül Kandaş, Turkish Ambassador to South Africa; MEC for Health in the Eastern Cape, Ms Ntandokazi Yolisa Capa; local distributor and CEO of the South African Medical Association, Dr Mzu Theo Nodikida; CEO of Mark Capital, Mr Naidoo; and the CEO of Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, along with other distinguished guests.

Addressing the guests, H.E. Ms Kandaş shared information on TIKA, the Turkish development corporation agency involved in numerous projects across South Africa. Special importance is given to the Eastern Cape, with a focus on the development of women and youth. TIKA currently completes an average of 20 projects a year in South Africa. There are 23 TIKA offices on the African continent, reaching out and assisting communities in various sectors with sustainable projects. The funds come from the Turkish government; to date, Turkey has invested a total of R60 million over the past seven years since the opening of the office in South Africa, completing 65 projects with more ongoing.

There are around 70 Turkish companies in South Africa across various sectors, predominantly found in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. One of the very active Turkish companies in South Africa, DEFY Appliances, contributes significantly to social development projects.

“Trying to give back to the community and trying to pay it forward,” said H.E. Ms Kandaş.

This effort also reflects Turkey’s desire to do more in South Africa following the assistance received from the South African government in response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in February 2023 in Turkey.

MEC Ms Capa thanked everyone for arranging the handover of the ventilator.

“Thank you very much; we are not taking this lightly at all. It means a lot to us and will mean a lot to the people in the area of O.R. Tambo,” said Ms Capa.

The hospital is located in an area of South Africa that experiences severe poverty. The O.R. Tambo region has a population of over 1.5 million people, with 90% relying on public health services. The region suffers from high levels of malnutrition and teenage pregnancies. The ventilator, which is the first from Turkey in Africa, will significantly alleviate the dire strain on medical resources in the region. Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital has 818 beds, which will increase to 900 in the foreseeable future with the addition of an oncology unit.

Reiterating words spoken by Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart,” MEC Ms Capa expressed the importance of being able to communicate with the local people in a language they understand.

The representative from Bioworld stated that the ventilator has a lifespan of 7 to 10 years and will be used in the ICU at the hospital.

The Department expressed its sincere gratitude to Turkey and Aselsan and looks forward to the arrival of the machine at the hospital.

by Marion Kate