Citylife Business

The hospital pledges to assist with huge waiting list in Gauteng.

BY CITYLIFE BUSINESS WRITER

Hospitals across Gauteng Province have recently announced their intention to catch up with 1000 surgeries in relation to ear, nose and throat (ENT).

Based on the above and as a call to action, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) is committing to do 60 surgeries, partnering with global medical technology firm, Smith and Nephew. The procedure, known as adenotonsillectomy, will cost approximately R10 000 each.

The surgeries are done as part of ENT Week, which will run from 17 to 27 July.

NMCH has availed the expertise of ENT surgeons, Dr. Mogau Lamola and Dr. Vuyo Ulana. Both doctors have vast experience in General Paediatric ENT and are equally passionate about caring for children. They will be working together with doctors from the Provincial Health Department at Leratong, Thelle Mogoerane and Pholosong Hospitals.

Dr. Nonkululeko Boikhutso, the NMCH’s chief executive officer, said: “The NMCH is committed to partnering with various stakeholders in matters related to children’s care and health. By undertaking 60 surgeries during Mandela month, the NMCH is demonstrating its willingness to assist in reducing this backlog.”

“Through public-private partnerships like these, we can witness and experience Madiba’s legacy in action. This is a demonstration of how society cares for children. We are urging more corporates to join us in our campaigns by supporting our programmes as health budgets are under pressure”, said Dr. Chirwa, the NMCH clinical director.

Five benefits of having an adenotonsillectomy procedure

  Improved quality of life

Tonsillitis can be painful as well as frustrating. However, a successful tonsillectomy can improve your overall quality of life. There is a reduction in the number of sore throat episodes.

Fewer infections

As your tonsils will be removed and your general health improved, those who experience tonsillitis caused by bacteria should have fewer infections.

Less use of medication

If you have fewer tonsillitis infections, you will find that you’ll be prescribed less medication, such as antibiotics.

 Improved sleep

When your tonsils become infected, they can swell or become enlarged. This can be disruptive to your sleep. A lack of sleep can make you feel tired during the day and can have a negative impact on your mood too. A tonsillectomy can also help to resolve other sleep-related issues too, such as sleep apnoea. This is where the tonsils get so large that they block the upper airway, which causes snoring and disrupts breathing.

Less time off work or school

Tonsillitis can be pretty uncomfortable, so it often results in absence from school or work.

Hosting Children’s parliament

 In the meantime for the 11th year, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) held the Children’s Parliament with the sole aim of further reiterating that children’s voices need to be heard when it comes to several scourges, particularly those affecting them.

This year’s edition was held last Friday in Bhisho, Eastern Cape, with the theme: “Maximising the voices of children in addressing social ills affecting them.”

In attendance were ambassadors, representing children from across SA. There was also the election of new leadership, with commissions established to look into various issues such as substance abuse, comprehensive sexuality, climate change, and child safety.

The NMCF runs the Children’s Parliament in partnership with the Department of Social Development. This is where children get to express their views, as per the Children’s Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Samukelisiwe Mnguni, Programme Manager of the Youth Leadership Programme at the NMCF, said: “One can see from the various topics discussed by the children that they indeed do have an opinion, and we should never reach a point where we suppress their views.”

The children in attendance were clear that the issues being discussed should not be left at that, but their solid suggestions should be followed up with implementation.

Further, the children debated various issues that affect them daily such as child protection systems – which are largely failing young people in SA – poverty, loadshedding, children being sent to buy liquor for adults (which is wrong), easy access to drugs, who should be held accountable for children’s abuse of alcohol as well as the over 250 000 invisible children who live and work in the streets of our country.

The other pressing issue that attendees discussed was teenage pregnancy, and how parents and society fail the children as adults are often involved, in some cases adults are found to be perpetrators of sexual abuse.

Dikgang Morudu (16), from Limpopo, was elected as the new President of the Children’s Parliament, the Grade 11 learner made a vow to take his role seriously. Morudu’s deputy is Kearabetswe Peter Khoase (16) from the Free State; the speaker is Unathi Mncithwa (16), also from the Free State. Khazimla Adam (16) from the Eastern Cape, was elected as speaker.

Mnguni concluded: “They are young parliamentarians showing us that we have made the right decision to start such a platform. The kind of robust discussions that were had, and resolutions made, are to be taken seriously by putting in notable work, so that when the twelfth edition comes, progress has been made.