BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE — Minister of Health Hon. Mduduzi Matsebula on 14 April 2026 said health workers “owe it to the nation” to improve service delivery during the official handover of national and regional quality awards to the Eswatini National Psychiatric Referral Hospital.
Speaking during the ceremony, Matsebula emphasised growing public expectations on the health sector, stating that Emaswati expect more from health workers, who continue working to meet their mandate under the direction of His Majesty King Mswati III.
The event marked a major milestone for the hospital, which has recently secured multiple awards recognising excellence in quality management and mental health care. Among the accolades, the institution was named Eswatini Service of the Year for 2025 in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise category, following the successful implementation of quality management systems that improve patient care and operational efficiency.
Its Mini Laboratory also received the Eswatini Conformity Assessment Body of the Year Award for 2025 after meeting internationally recognised ISO 15189 standards, a benchmark for quality and competence in medical laboratories.
At regional level, the hospital’s Mental Health Care Service earned the SADC Service of the Year Small and Medium Enterprise Award for 2026, presented by the Southern African Development Community, placing the country among leaders in quality mental health service delivery.
Matsebula commended the institution for its progress, noting that continuous improvement remains critical across the health sector. “Today we gathered here to congratulate and celebrate one of our facilities for national and regional recognition. Continuous improvement towards excellence is very critical in our ministry, and we have to deliver as mandated,” he said.
He added that the National Psychiatric Referral Hospital has shown significant improvement in recent years and should be encouraged to maintain its standards, especially after competing successfully against private sector institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital, Administrator Neliswa Mbingo expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s support, highlighting key improvements recorded since the Minister assumed office.
These include consistent ministerial visits, infrastructure development, two years of uninterrupted drug supply, the recruitment of two clinical psychologists after a six year gap, deployment of a senior medical officer, and continued financial support.
Mbingo said the interventions have improved both service delivery and working conditions for staff. Despite ongoing challenges, the hospital continues to demonstrate resilience and commitment to delivering patient centred mental health care.
The recognition highlights both the progress made and the need for sustained investment in mental health infrastructure, systems and services across the country.
