New R90 million orthopaedic unit to transform child healthcare at Red Cross Hospital
Celeste Martin
30 September 2025 | 12:04The facility is fully donor-funded and comes after the closure of the historic Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, which served young patients for nearly 100 years.
Picture: Facebook/@Children's Hospital Trust
CapeTalk's Clarence Ford chats to Head of Fundraising at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cheryl Manikam.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital has officially opened a cutting-edge orthopaedic unit, marking a major leap forward in paediatric healthcare.
Manikam explains that the R90 million facility is fully donor-funded and comes after the closure of the historic Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital, which served young patients for nearly 100 years.
"...a dedicated facility was needed to ensure that these children can continue to receive high-quality care. Previously, only emergency orthopaedic procedures had been done at the Red Cross Hospital."
- Cheryl Manikam, Head of Fundraising - Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital
She adds that with orthopaedic services now consolidated at Red Cross, the new unit is equipped to meet growing patient demand in one central, specialised space.
The unit will treat a wide range of bone and muscle-related conditions, including fractures, growth abnormalities, and congenital issues like clubfoot.
It features surgical theatres, high-care isolation rooms, physiotherapy facilities, and family-friendly waiting areas.
"Each year the orthopaedic department handles 1700 admissions, 5500 out-patient visits, 1000 surgeries - included in that number are 1400 patients who receive treatment in the clubfoot clinic."
- Cheryl Manikam, Head of Fundraising - Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital
With this milestone now achieved, Manikam says the hospital is focusing on its next urgent goal: fundraising for a much-needed new cafeteria that can better serve patients, families, and staff.
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