BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
EZULWINI – His Majesty King Mswati III has officially opened the E50 million Khanyisile Clinic at Nyonyane, Ezulwini, in a major boost to healthcare services for the community and surrounding areas.
The state-of-the-art health facility, which has been established through a partnership involving the Hee Yeon Medical Foundation, the Ministry of Health and international partners, brings expanded healthcare services closer to residents of Ezulwini.
The clinic was officially opened on Thursday during a ceremony attended by government officials, traditional leaders, development partners, healthcare workers and members of the community.
The investment of approximately E50 million covers the construction of the facility and the procurement of medical equipment. His Majesty disclosed that this is the first phase of the clinic. He stated that construction will continue to expand the clinic and the estimated costs will amount to about E200 million.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the King said the facility represented more than a physical building, describing it as an investment in the country’s human capital.
He said healthcare remained central to national development because a healthy population was essential to building a productive and resilient Kingdom.
The King said the establishment of the clinic demonstrated what could be achieved when government, traditional leadership, communities, the private sector and international development partners worked towards a shared objective.
The facility is expected to serve the Nyonyane community and neighbouring areas, bringing healthcare services closer to residents and reducing the distance they have to travel to access medical attention.
According to the King, the clinic is the second public health facility in the area and brings healthcare within five kilometres of the Nyonyane community.
He said reducing the physical distance to healthcare facilities would help lower travelling costs, protect household income and encourage people to seek treatment earlier.
The clinic’s services include primary healthcare, specialist consultations, dental care and diagnostic services.
Specialised services available at the facility include endoscopy and dermatology, among others.
The King said revenue generated from specialised medical services would contribute towards covering the clinic’s operating costs.
The facility’s development is also linked to a long-standing relationship between the clinic’s founders and the Ministry of Health.
The King said the partnership dated back to 2010, when Daniel Kim began organising volunteer medical specialists from South Korea and the United States to provide services to emaSwati alongside the Ministry of Health.
The volunteer missions subsequently developed into a dedicated health centre providing a wider range of services.
Since 2015, the facility has worked closely with the Ministry of Health, with specialist doctors from the clinic working in public hospitals alongside government doctors.
The specialists also provide clinical training and mentorship aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce.
The King expressed appreciation to Kim, his family, the Hee Yeon Medical Foundation, international donors and other partners for their contribution towards the project.
The clinic carries the name of Kim’s late sister, Hee Yeon, whose death in 2019 inspired the family to turn their grief into a lasting healthcare legacy.
The King said the family had dedicated her inheritance towards establishing a charitable health centre in Eswatini.
He said the gesture was commendable and demonstrated how personal loss could be transformed into a public good benefiting generations.
The partnership has already extended beyond the provision of services locally.
The King revealed that the initiative recently facilitated specialised, life-saving surgery in South Korea for a young Liswati boy born with a rare disease that causes tumours to grow in the lymph vessels.
The operation was successful, with the child now recovering.
The facility’s establishment also received support from the Ezulwini traditional leadership and the Ezulwini Royal Kraal, which allocated land for the project.
The King said the development of Ezulwini should continue to benefit communities as the valley expands.
He said public infrastructure, healthcare and youth skills development should grow alongside the area’s economic and tourism development.
According to His Majesty, Ezulwini has undergone significant transformation over the past four decades, evolving from a tourism destination into a growing centre incorporating hospitality, diplomacy, trade, traditional leadership and public institutions.
The King said such development should remain inclusive, with local communities continuing to benefit from the valley’s growth.
In recognition of the legacy behind the facility, and for easier understanding amongst eMaswati, the King officially bestowed upon it the siSwati name Khanyisile Clinic, meaning “she who brought light”.
He said the name was conferred in honour of Hee Yeon and would serve as an enduring reminder of the ability of compassion to transform communities.
The King then declared Khanyisile Clinic officially open.
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