SEBOKENG. – An 11-year-old boy from Tshepong spent a month in Sebokeng Hospital and another month at home following an alleged botched circumcision that took place at Levai Mbatha Clinic in Evaton on July 6.
The mother whose name is withheld to protect her son’s identity says the boy started experiencing difficulties passing urine that very same day.
“The following day the wound had turned purple. I took him back to the clinic but I was instructed to go home and wash him with salt water. The nurse said everything would be fine but he kept on getting worse until I took him to a private doctor.”
The mother says she was told by the doctor to go back to the clinic and get a referral for her son’s hospitalisation as the problem was getting serious.
“My son was hospitalised for a month. A Urologist said that he would need to undergo a skin grafting procedure as his private part had no skin left. It is also said that the bandage used to cover his wound was too tight.”
The mother states that this entire experience has left her son with psychological scars. “He is not ok. He asks me daily if his penis will ever be normal again. I feel like this matter should have been attended to with urgency and it wasn’t.”
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona says, “When the district was made aware of the incident they immediately did a follow-up with the team that performed the operation. The operation was done according to the guidelines procedurally with an approved team (clinical associate under supervision of a doctor).
“We support the mother psychologically by providing transport to and from Sebokeng Hospital, including daily visits to the patient for on-going re-assurance and support.” Mabona adds that the department has since come up with clinical mentors as an addition to the existing staff.
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