Intricate, lifesaving heart surgery at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital has given a a new lease on life to a six-year-old girl, who would have had to wait at least six months – if she were lucky – for the procedure at a state hospital.
One in every 100 children is born with a significant heart defect in SA, and about 12 000 children are born annually with a life-threatening heart problem, reports TimeLIVE.
Wanga Khumeleni, from Centurion, was born with two serious heart defects that needed repair, but thanks to intervention from a paediatric cardiologist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, the surgery was carried out much sooner than would have happened at a government facility.
Cardiothoracic surgeons Erich Schürmann and Hendrick Mamorare of the Maboneng Heart and Lung Institute (based at Sunninghill Hospital), paediatric cardiologist Janine Meares and anaesthetist Krishnee Naidoo, from Sunninghill Hospital, all gave their time and expertise pro bono to perform her heart operation, which was carried out successfully and from which the little girl has completely recovered.
It had come as a shock to the family from Centurion when doctors discovered her heart murmur. She was referred to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and seen by a team led by paediatric cardiologist Professor Lindy Mitchell.
“While many adult heart problems can only be managed, the majority of children’s heart defects can fortunately be repaired, leaving the child with a normal quality of life, life expectancy and future,” said Mitchell.
“We have to find these children to help them, and then have trained paediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons to treat them. Yet, while the problem of heart disease in children is huge, the number of specialists available to treat them is unfortunately very small.”
After seeing the girl, Mitchell applied to the private sector so that she could be helped as soon as possible. Netcare Foundation, Netcare’s corporate social investment (CSI) arm, and the Maboneng Foundation stepped in to ensure the surgeries happened with no cost to the family.
Schürmann described Wanga as one of the “fortunate few, but she represents a drop in the ocean”. “We need more sponsors and public private co-operation to save more lives,” he said.
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