The Health MEC, Sicelo Gqobana is planning to visit Mthatha General and St Barnabas hospitals in the OR Tambo region to assess the situation following the flooding of initiates who required immediate medical attention. These boys are mainly presenting with dehydration, gangrene and septic wounds and some have lost their genitals.
The number of initiates who are currently being treated in various hospitals due to traditional circumcision related complications in the province has now increased to 263.
Some hospitals are now running out of beds and this has prompted the department to identify special wards to treat the boys. The department was also forced to classify the injuries into four grades. Those with minor injuries are classified as grade 1 – 2 and will be treated at clinics and district hospitals.
Grade 3 and 4 are those suffering from dehydration difficulty in passing urine and those with gangrenous and spontaneous amputation of genitals. The department is gravely concerned about the fact that, these boys are being brought to hospital on the 11th hour only for doctors to certify them dead on arrival or to treat their falling genitals.
OR Tambo district is the worst affected area in the province. The department has now hired 6 additional medical doctors to focus on treating injuries in this region. A total of 47 vehicles have also been hired for traditional Chiefs and health officials to visit boys in the bush. 40 volunteers are also assisting in rescue operation missions in the area.
The total number of deaths has now increased to 28, autopsies performed on the majority of the deceased boys have revealed septic genitals and renal failure as the main cause of death. Another one has been confirmed as having died from pneumonia.
The department wishes to urge community members not to allow these unfortunate occurrences happen under their watch. Since the start of the season only two arrests have been made. Police are also facing difficulty as families are reluctant to lay charges against the perpetrators. Some initiates have alleged assaults taking place in the bush.
Enquiries:
Sizwe Kupelo
E-mail: info@sizwekupelo.org
