Mandela Children's Hospital opens in Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela's dream of a hospital to provide specialized care for children has opened in Johannesburg today.

The 200-bed Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital cost USD 70 million to build. It was conceived by Mandela more than a decade ago and will employ 150 pediatric doctors and 450 nurses.

The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and will provide child-centered treatment for cancer, kidney, brain, lung and heart ailments.

Video equipment has been installed in the operating rooms to send live broadcasts of surgeries to educate doctors in remote areas across southern Africa.

The hospital's construction was funded largely by donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Islamic Relief Worldwide and the Kellogg Foundation.