Staff Reporter.
Sebokeng Hospital has performed its first brain surgeries on two patients who have been suffering from a subdural hematoma (bleeding onto the brain).
The Gauteng Department of Health said that the major milestone in over forty years comes after the recent establishment of a Neurosurgery unit at the hospital.
Previously, Sebokeng Hospital referred patients to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says the surgery is proof of the support given by the department to health facilities.
“As part of reclaiming the jewel of the Gauteng public health system one of our key focus areas is to ensure that our facilities function optimally and that infrastructure challenges are addressed as this has a direct bearing on positive health outcomes.”
The surgeries were performed on two patients who had been suffering from subdural haemotoma which is the bleeding onto the brain.
Sebokeng Hospitals’ Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Fhatuwani Mbara said that many patients who presented at the facility with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) were demising due to a lack of immediate neurosurgical interventions.
“TBI patients were occupying ICU beds for a prolonged duration with no definite management plan because the majority of the patients require different types of operations ranging from skull, brain, and spine surgeries. The newly established unit and the highly skilled team we have will ensure that we reduce head injury-related deaths that are sustained by our patients, especially men of younger age groups,” said Dr Mbara.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.