Bara Hospital to reduce thyroid backlogs with new machine
The country’s largest health facility, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is going to reduce thyroid disease backlogs drastically – from waiting period of three to six months, to waiting period of one to two weeks – this is all thanks to a public-private-partnership.
On Thursday, the hospital’s Department of Endocrinology will take ownership of ultrasound to the value of R700 000, donated by global pharmaceutical company, Merck. The machine will be used to diagnose and treat thyroid disease, which in the past was only done through taking blood tests. A method that had a long turnaround time but with the new ultrasound machine that will be done in short turnaround time. This will help alleviate the long waiting times for procedures.
The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ found just below the Adam’s apple, and it produces two hormones responsible for the regulation of carbohydrate and fat metabolism, the regulation of body temperature, and the regulation of heart rate, and it functions as part of a system along with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.
As part of the handover a special thyroid screening and awareness event will be held at the hospital, which will comprise voluntary thyroid screening for members of the community.
Members of the Media are invited as follows:
Date: 19 November 2015
Venue: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Recreation Hall
Time: 9h00-13h00
For more information please contact:
Steve Mabona
Cell: 072 574 3860
For media enquiries:
E-mail: mediaenquiries@gauteng.gov.za
