Nozipho Tshazwa
Sixty-one-year-old David Crossey’s life has been impacted for the better after participating in the Gauteng Department of Health’s (GDoH) Surgical Marathons intervention programme.
Crossey is among those who have been granted a new lease on life and a renewed sense of purpose after undergoing a successful exploratory laparotomy surgery at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
For years, Crossey endured pain in the centre of his abdomen resulting in changes in his appetite. Initially, he did not take the pain seriously, but as it became unbearable, he sought medical attention.
When this issue first occurred, he did not take pay much attention and continued to treat the symptoms without understanding the underlying cause until it escalated, and he became very sick. This led to his admission at Tambo Memorial Hospital, where he remained for two months. At the hospital, doctors determined that an exploratory laparotomy surgery was necessary.
“The surgical team was outstanding, ensuring that I fully understood my condition and the surgery I was about to undergo. I was particularly impressed by the brilliant surgical team, they are the best at the hospital, and they provided me with exceptional care,” he said.
Crossey has fully recovered and resumed his work. He now attends follow-up appointments at the hospital as an outpatient after his successful surgery. “I am thankful to have regained my life. My hospital stay was excellent, the nurses and doctors were exceptionally friendly and supportive. They truly saved my life as they promptly addressed complications I encountered post-surgery,” added Crossey.
Through the initiative, the GDoH managed to address the backlog of 37 000 surgeries within a span of nine months, from mid-July 2023 to 31 March 2024. All patients just like Crossey have been discharged. The implementation of surgical marathons began in the second quarter (July to September 2023), with a total of 11 307 surgeries performed. Quarter three (October to December 2023) saw an acceleration in the surgical marathons, with 22 112 surgeries conducted.
In addition, the GDoH has taken proactive measures to leverage on the lessons from the project such as strengthening partnerships internally and externally by increasing the number of functioning theatres in hospitals thus allowing for an increased capacity to perform surgeries and reducing waiting times.
SOURCED FROM THE GPG WEBSITE.
