An environmental health practitioner of the Bongani Regional Hospital is now recognised as a Centre for Public Service and Innovation (CPSI) award winner.
Driven by his passion for environmental sustainability, Tshepo Mokhadi has implemented numerous sustainable hospital initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint and use of harmful chemicals, especially pesticides and waste minimisation strategies in the health sector.
Countless case-studies, conducted by Mokhadi, about greener hospital initiatives have been published on greenhospitals.net, and also on the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) network, highlighting sustainable works and projects undertaken mostly at the Bongani hospital.
These sustainable efforts towards greener healthcare practices were recognised by Health Care Without Harm and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) globally, and locally by the national department of health which has awarded Mokhadi with the Alfred Nzo Environmental Health award under the Innovation category for the development of an electronic healthcare waste information system.
As part of a number of groundbreaking technological innovations within the health sector, the Free State department of health launched the Global Green mobile app (GGA), an advanced electronic environmental health assessment tool. This marks a significant milestone in the department’s journey towards innovation and excellence.
“I saw an opportunity to improve our environmental health assessments and decided to take action,” Mokhadi explains. “Through dedication and perseverance, I developed the GGA to streamline our processes and enhance healthcare outcomes.”
This achievement is also a testament to the power of collaboration and the critical role that executive managers’ play in fostering a culture of innovation.
According to Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, the CPSI is mandated to entrench a culture and practice of innovation in the public sector to enhance service delivery.
Monyatso Mahlatsi, Free State MEC for Health, emphasises the importance of innovation in the public health sector.
“By fostering a culture of innovation, we position ourselves as leaders in public health solutions that can be shared across provinces, maximising our impact and creating a unified approach to healthcare challenges nationwide.”
The provincial health department’s partnership with the CPSI is a shining example of this collaborative spirit. At the helm of this innovative project, Mokhadi’s expertise and creativity showcases the potential for internal innovation to drive meaningful change.
