Hospital reaches out to the community

There were 14 patients in total. Seven gastroscopy patients were treated on Friday, July 21, while seven hernia patients were due to be treated on Tuesday, July 25.

Thoko Masondo, the hospital marketing manager, said this is their way of giving back to the community of Vosloorus.

“At the same time we are celebrating Mandela’s legacy under the theme, ‘Take Action. Inspire Change’.”

She said the initiative to treat 67 patients began on Mandela Day, July 18, in one of Clinix’ sister hospitals in Johannesburg and will continue throughout Mandela Month.

“Patients who are receiving treatment here today were transferred from different Gauteng provincial hospitals to Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus. They were on the list of patients to be operated on in June next year. They are excited that their problems are going to be solved at the private hospital sooner,” said Masondo.

She said treating all 14 patients will cost the hospital over R1.3-million.

“But it will be done by the hospital free of charge,” she said.

Tholakele Nkabinde (43), a patient from Villa Liza informal settlement, was excited to be chosen as a beneficiary.

“I can’t explain the feeling,” said Nkabinde. “I’ve been in and out of hospitals for a couple of months. I’ve been coming to hospital on foot because I could not afford to pay for transport.”

He continued, “I would like to thank the hospital for their help. Besides their generosity, the hospital staff, from the security at the gate to the hospital head, are very good when it comes treating patients well. They did not look down upon us because we are poor,” said Nkabinde.

Another beneficiary, Jennifer Vermaak, said with the way the procedure was explained to her, she is certain she is going to recover soon.

“I am excited about the treatment. For the past two years I’ve been receiving treatment that made me more sick. I am excited about the offer,” said Vermaak.