Moments in time
Opened
Opened in 1931, the KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Hospital (formerly the Addington Children’s Hospital), was dedicated to the care and treatment of children, a first in Africa.
Shut Down
Subsequently, having been shut down by the Apartheid government in 1984 because it offered services to children of colour, the hospital fell into deep disrepair.
Re-established
In 2010, the KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Hospital re-establishment project was formed to reignite the dream of providing accessible health care to all children in the province.
Stay in the loop with our Newsletter
Stay connected with the journey of the KZN Children’s Hospital. In our newsletters, we share stories of progress, gratitude, and the project's urgent needs — showing how every contribution brings us closer to restoring this historic hospital for the children of KwaZulu-Natal.
We start the new year with gratitude for your support in restoring the KZN Children’s Hospital. This year, we enter a new phase — building a child and adolescent psychiatric unit to bring mental health care to the forefront. With your help, this vital service will soon become a reality.
Children deserve healthcare designed just for them, especially when facing serious disabilities. KwaZulu-Natal is home to nearly a quarter of the nation’s children — and with your help, our hospital can remain a beacon of healing for generations to come.
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Mental health remains one of the greatest unmet needs for children in KZN. Our hospital has already helped over 45,000 young patients, but the demand is far greater. Together, we can restore our historic hospital and build the province’s first psychiatric unit for children.
Rebuilding the past for future generations
Our mission
Our mission is to provide comprehensive, equitable health care and support to the children and youth of KwaZulu-Natal that is based on scientifically sound methods and technology.
We envision a world-class children’s hospital that is cost-effective, trans-disciplinary, environmentally-friendly and sustainable; and that will be open to all children, adolescents and their care-givers. regardless of economic background or social standing.
Our primary goals
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Providing treatment, prevention and care to children and adolescents (including palliative care, rehabilitation as well as psycho-social benefit support services)
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Supporting the development of expertise and skills in paediatric and adolescent treatment, care and support
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Supporting community education, mobilisation and outreach in KZN
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Supporting research in paediatrics and adolescent health
The decision to renovate the Children’s Hospital was unanimously approved by the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet in 2009, followed by the official launching of the project in July 2010. In order to deliver on our goals, the Hospital restoration project is being managed by a Steering Committee comprising representatives of the KZN Department of Health and The KZN Children’s Hospital Trust.
