Local hospitals tackle surgery backlog
For healthcare professionals, Mandela Day inspires dedication and reminds them of their pledge to assist the ill.
ALBERTON – In an effort to reduce its surgery backlog in the province, the Gauteng Department of Health begun accelerating cataract surgeries in its facilities.
In celebration of Mandela Day, healthcare workers have decided to dedicate their extra time to provide this life changing service.
Last year the department reported a backlog of cataract surgeries and the MEC for health, Qedani Mahlangu, told the Gauteng legislature, during her department’s budget vote last month, that the department is implementing
measures to reduce this backlog.
At the Lenasia Community Health Centre, 20 cataract surgeries, mostly on the elderly, have been performed thus far. Since Monday, July 13, the New Natalspruit Hospital has performed 10 surgeries and will continue to perform more surgeries until Sunday, July 19. The Leratong Hospital, in the West Rand, hopes to perform no less than 50 cataract surgeries between July 17 and 19.
A cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eye. This causes vision loss that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or corneal refractive surgery. Modern cataract surgery is usually able to restore the lost vision and can often reduce dependency on glasses. Cataracts are mostly associated with the aging process and are common among the elderly.
At 9am on Wednesday, July 15, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla and the Hilton Hotel distributed toys, toiletries and educational material in the oncology ward of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
