Valentine’s Day Brings Love and Hope Through Surgery
Stoma Reversal Operations for 12 Gauteng Patients
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, the Gauteng Department of Health is embracing the spirit of love in a different way as surgical teams gear up to perform stoma reversal surgeries on 12 patients who had previously undergone Ostomy surgery.
This delicate procedure, also known as colostomy closure or ileostomy takedown, aims to restore the natural flow of waste through the digestive system by reconnecting the bowel after a temporary stoma had been created.
For these patients, the stoma reversal surgery is crucial for their quality of life and dignity, allowing them to regain control over their bowel function and eliminate the need for a stoma bag.
About 7 patients at Bertha Gxowa Regional Hospital and 5 at Tambo Memorial Regional Hospital will undergo the operations, each case lasting approximately 2 hours.
These surgeries are part of the larger Surgical Marathons campaign introduced by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in July 2023.
The goal of the campaign is to tackle surgical backlogs and reduce waiting times for crucial procedures.
So far, the department has managed to significantly reduce the backlog, having successfully conducted 4 different types of surgical marathons focusing on high patient numbers in Arthroplasty, Cataracts, Urology, and General Surgery.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko stressed the importance of the Surgical Marathons project and its impact on patients’ lives.
“The various teams across our service platforms have been consistently performing surgical marathons on a weekly and monthly basis,” she said. “This intervention is part of the key commitments made by the 6th administration when I was assigned to the health portfolio.”
The progress made thus far affirms our resolve to deliver a healthcare system that ensures prompt and quality care for all residents of Gauteng.
The Department is also closely monitoring the number of surgeries performed on a daily basis by all public hospitals in the province through the Surgical Patient Dashboard tracker. This system enables better coordination and allocation of resources.
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko further extended her appreciation to all the healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly to reach the milestone of over 25,000 surgeries and counting.