Mediclinic Day Clinic extends helping hand

Doctors in private practice who perform procedures at Limpopo Mediclinic Day Clinic took time out of their busy schedules to plough back to the community by rendering medical services to paediatric patients on Pietersburg Provincial Hospital’s surgical waiting lists free of charge last Thursday.
Lekohotla Monare and Smit van Zyl, both urologists based at Limpopo Mediclinic Day Clinic, performed pro bono surgery on 10 paediatric patients while anaesthetist, Muyima Gibango assisted with the procedures which include orchiopexy correction of undescended testes, inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair.
Limpopo Mediclinic Day Clinic Manager Stephane Moelich indicated that on Friday the clinic also assisted an additional 10 young patients who underwent adeno-tonsillectomies to relieve breathing difficulties. The procedures were undertaken by ear, nose and throat surgeon, Lorraine Mosotja, and anaesthetist Yvonne Phaswana, she explained. Moelich went on to emphasise that these procedures formed part of an ongoing relationship between the clinic and provincial health structures across the country, where spare theatre capacity within the private sector is utilised to assist the provincial facilities.
The aim of the partnership is to help broaden access to quality healthcare for all South Africans while alleviating the burden of long public surgery waiting lists. To date, these surgeries have proven highly successful with an initial 100 patients in the first year and an intended roll out of a further 100 surgeries within the current financial year, Moelich outlined.
Acting Deputy Director-General for Tertiary Health Services and Academic Development at Department of Health, Ntodeni Ndwamato reportedly said “In the province we find it difficult to attract specialist doctors. This means that patients can wait years to receive treatment. We appreciate the effort Limpopo Mediclinic Day Clinic has made to reach out to the community.”

Story and photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za