South Africa: This weekend, team Rural health matters kickstarted its 2023 March project for Sekhukhune district by honouring and celebrating the life of Dr Simphiwe Muyimane at Philadelphia hospital, where a team of Orthopedic surgeons did a number of arthroplasties including three knee and four hip replacements were done.
The team led by Prof Steve Matshidze, which includes Dr Mudau, Dr Motloung, Dr Manyaha, Dr Sekonyela, Dr Mashala, Dr Motheta and Dr Mkomo, will be in the district to reduce the Orthopedics backlogs.
Health MEC thanked the team that continues to sacrifice their weekends and their families’ time for a just course which is service to humanity. “We remain indebted to all our specialists and all supporting healthcare workers who share our vision to make sure our people live a long, healthy and quality life. We decided to honour our fallen colleague by doing what he loves most. People will remember we celebrated his last birthday in this very same theatre last year and we felt his absence this weekend. The project will continue the entire week, targeting all Sekhukhune district hospitals where different specialists are expected to reduce surgical backlogs,” said MEC Ramathuba.
Moreover, Limpopo Health Department suspended Tshiombo Clinic services due to a fire incident. The department informed community members of Tshiombo and the surrounding communities that the clinic will be temporarily closed.
This is after the old building of the clinic caught fire at midday on (25 March 2023). Firefighters were called to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the other buildings including the new additions in the clinic. The cause of fire is not yet known. No injuries or casualties were reported.
In the meantime, community members are advised to utilise William Eddie, Rambuda, Damani, and Makonde Clinics. The department will await fire experts from the SAPS to investigate and provide the relevant report. Once the department is given access to the site of the burnt clinic by SAPS, the cost of damage will be determined.
MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has deployed the Acting Deputy Director General responsible for Healthcare Services to immediately make an assessment in respect of the services that can be rendered at the facility while the investigations and also before the building can be refurbished and recommissioned.