Twenty-one patients at Tshilidzini Hospital underwent orthopaedic surgery performed by a team of 40 health professionals in three theatres last weekend after a team of four orthopaedic specialists, led by a specialist from the Free State responded to reports of a backlog experienced.
The specialists came to the province and offered their time and skills for free after hearing about the challenges experienced by the Department of Health with the backlog of patients awaiting orthopaedic operations. Two of them, Steve Matshidza and Lindelani Nevondo are based in the Free State, Paul Kgagudi is based in Johannesburg and Silas Mokoena in Pretoria.
The team conducted an outreach programme at the hospital on Saturday and Sunday.
It was planned that 33 patients would receive surgery upon but limitations of time and the complexity of the procedures allowed for only 21 to be assisted ranging from hip replacements to open reduction and internal fixations, external fixations and tendon repairs.
“Three of these patients had more than one operation due to polytrauma. A 34-year old female patient was operated on for more than seven hours as she had five bones repaired. The patients who were operated on were from Tshilidzini Hospital and the referring district hospitals Musina, Donald Fraser, Elim, Louis Trichardt and Siloam,” departmental Spokesperson Derick Kganyago informed.
“The department would like to extend a heartfelt appreciation to the doctors who heeded our call for help and offered their time and skills at no cost to the department and to the people of Vhembe district. We also note with gratitude that the specialists worked with the local doctors to ensure that there was a transfer of skills and that they have offered to continue supporting our doctors,” Kganyago said. “The department plans to continue to conduct more of these outreach projects to address the backlog and to also put in place systems that would ensure sustainability of orthopaedic services in the province.”
He expressed his gratitude towards the visiting specialists and the entire team that made the project a success.
Story: NELIE ERASMUS
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