Many children in our province require specialised care because of infectious diseases, childhood cancer, disabilities and psychiatric problems often exacerbated by social factors such as nutrition, education, and the social ills rampant in our indigent communities. 

Tygerberg Hospital treats some of the highest volumes of childhood tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in the world and is thus a recognized world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric TB and HIV. A specialised children’s HIV clinic was established in 1997 in an attempt to give comprehensive care to families affected by HIV. The paediatric infectious diseases unit has a core of highly trained consultants offering a wide range of specialised care to our children.

Our paediatric Haematology Oncology unit is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a training unit and has been open since 1983, while our Paediatric Pulmonology service is internationally recognised and in 2020 became the first unit in Africa to receive the Olympus Ultrasound Bronchoscope system, vastly improving our ability to diagnose and treat child-patients.

The unit has a strong outreach program and is involved in building up capacity in many African countries.