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With the help of generous donations from civil society, provincial government and humanitarian group Gift of the Givers, who collectively contributed R12 million to the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust Surgery Recovery Project, more than 60 patients could undergo much-needed surgeries recently.
A donor acknowledgement event took place at the hospital on Wednesday 8 June.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the hospital has a surgical backlog of between 6 000 and 10 000.
In January this year, Gift of the Givers donated R5 million towards the recovery project and challenged other organisations and government to match their donation.
The aim of the project is to reach R15 million, which will aid the hospital to perform 1 500 surgical procedures for a year. A whopping R2,7 million is still required to achieve this goal.
However, thanks to some donors the hospital started its catch-up surgeries a month ago and relieved 67 patients who have been waiting for the past two years.
Prof Lydia Cairncross, Head of General Surgery at the hospital, says the largest waiting list is in the ophthalmology department. “Some people have waited two years for their surgery anxiously without a date of when it was going to happen. We are excited, committed and energetic and focussed. So far we have done seven breast cancer operations, 24 cataract operations, five stoma closures, six gynaecological diagnostic procedures and about 10 orthopaedic procedures.”
Cairncross says they are grateful for everyone’s generosity. “In the health system we have had a difficult few years. We are starting to think that this is a restart, and we could not have done it without the provincial department of health, the public and Gift of the Givers’ support. It is amazing to see that people have risen out of the Covid-19 time and are prepared to still give from their pockets even though everyone is struggling.”
Cairncross says they are hoping to share their expertise and to see the project expand to other hospitals.
“This project is not only helping the patients, it’s also helping surgical teams here at the hospital. Our provincial hospitals like Somerset, Victoria, and Mitchell’s Plain will also benefit from this project. We are going to share what we are doing here with them as well.”
A group of ordinary hikers dubbed Hike2Heal raised R1 million towards the project.
Hike2Heal member Zaheer Parker says the group consists of 12 hikers that came together and decided to turn their journey into a social-impact cause.
Championing the Groote Schuur Hospital’s Surgical Recovery Project, Hike2Heal completed a five-day Ottery Trail in March.
“Our aim was to raise R100 000. I think we were a bit scared to over commit ourselves, but we managed to raise that amount within a week. Before we left on the hike, we reached about R300 000 and we were quite excited a few weeks ago when we were told that we reached the R1 million mark.”
Dr Shrikant Peter, Medical Manager of Theatre Services, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at the hospital, says the procedures take place in the state-of-the-art theatre based in the E4 ward. He says it was built to increase surgical capacity in the hospital, but for the past two years the ward was used to treat Covid-19 high care patients.
According to Peters, four doctors and between 15 to 20 nurses have been appointed for the project. He says it has boosted the morale among staff.
“It’s been uplifting to staff knowing that they have extra time to help more patients. Being able to tell someone’s family they can perform the procedure that they’ve been waiting many years for, is a great experience.”
Sr Sandisa Diniso, who works in the ward, says: “I am happy when I see how relieved patients are to be getting treatment. It is a relief even for us as staff because we are here for the patients, we are here to care for them. We need to make sure that they are in good health.”
Zoleka Gijana, Anaesthetic Assistant, says she is grateful to be part of a team of people who are bettering the lives of patients who have been suffering for years due to the medical conditions.
Naeem Kathrada, Head of the Gift of the Givers medical team in the province, says they are grateful to be part of the project.
“It is amazing to be here and to think something like this can come about within six months. It’s just amazing to feel the impact when you hear stories from patients and the impact it has on their families and that is what Gift of the Givers want to do: try and help mankind.”
Kathrada says they are hoping to collaborate with other hospitals going forward.
- To donate visit www.gshtrust.co.za/donate
