patients
1 November 2007
The Eastern Cape Department of Health together with local government
councillors have helped with the process of identifying more than 500 deserving
patients for assessment and fitting of artificial limbs.
This follows an initiative by the Eastern Cape Department of Health of
embarking on an outreach project aimed at radically fast tracking the backlog
in the prosthetic limbs in the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts.
About 39 patients blissfully descended to Mthatha Hospital Complex's Bedford
Orthopaedic Hospital for the trial fitting of the limbs that some have been
waiting for decades.
According to Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital's Middle Manager O'Nell Pretorius,
the trial fitting is the last stage before the patients receive their "perfect"
limbs. "Once professionals are satisfied with how the artificial limbs fit on
patients, and patients are comfortable walking with the artificial limbs, they
will be fitted," said Pretorius.
Nkululeko Dyani, 30, who lost his leg in a fight half a decade ago, said he
was happy to receive the new leg even though he had been used to his
crutches.
"I have been using crutches for five years and I would already get used to
it, so the leg will slow me down a little bit but I will learn to use it as I
did with the crutches," he said.
Provincial Orthotic and prosthetic manager Mr Sandi Mboya explained that it
was the trial fitting which would assist the orthestics and prosthetics in
making the correct limb for the patients. "The patients will be called again
for the final fitting of the limbs after all the regions of the particular
regions have been seen," he explained.
A 64-year-old Nowelile Gololo from Mqanduli thinks things will get better
when she finally gets her leg after six years on crutches.
"Finally I will be able to take care of my crops in my ploughing fields,"
she happily expressed her joy.
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government, Department of Health
1 November 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
