DISABLED MAN SUFFERS FROM CANCER TREATMENT DELAY
Mr Santa Kgabo (56) is in excruciating pain while he waits for urgent cancer treatment that has been delayed for several weeks.
His story is told by his friend Claire Salmon Hoff who has written to Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu requesting her urgent intervention (see her letter below).
Kgabo is a disabled man with only one leg who was first admitted to the Mamelodi Hospital on 29 July 2014 for investigatory surgery for a growth on his stomach. He was released fourteen days later after a biopsy was taken for testing. The wound was left open as he was told that should the result be positive, immediate surgery would take place to remove the growth.
This wound has still not been treated and has almost grown closed without any further treatment from the Mamelodi Hospital.
The results of his biopsy should have been available on 1 September, but only came on 13 October. He was diagnosed with a cancerous growth requiring urgent treatment, but his file has not yet been transferred to the Oncology Department at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
I am shocked at his story which shows how a cancer patient's life is endangered by unnecessary delays in treatment.
Mr Kgabe is a leader in his community in Refilwe in Cullinan, where he runs a home for 59 mentally disabled children.
He has been poorly treated by our health system and I hope MEC Qedani intervenes to ensure he gets speedy treatment for his cancer.
Letter sent by Ms Claire Salmon Hoff to MEC Qedani Mahlangu
Dear Ms Qedani Mahlangu
THREE MONTHS PAST AND NO TREATMENT FOR CANCER
Patient Mr. Santa William Kgabo
I write to you with grave concern about the treatment of my above mentioned colleague and friend.
Mr. Kgabo is a physically disabled man who was admitted to Mamelodi Hospital on 29 July 2014 for investigatory surgery for a growth in his stomach. He was released fourteen days later after a biopsy was taken for testing. The wound was not closed and left open as the patient was told, that should the result be positive, further immediate surgery would take place to remove the growth. The date of writing, this wound has NOT been treated and has almost grown closed without any further treatment from the Mamelodi Hospital.
The patient was to return to hospital three weeks after his release for the results of the biopsy. The results should have been available on 01 September 2014. The results were not forthcoming despite the efforts of Mr. Kgabo to acquire them. Results were only attained on 13 October, 2014. During ALL of this time the wound was not treated. The patient is now in AGONY and the only medication being given to him by Mamelodi Hospital is white Panado and red Brufen which to be frank are of no use at all to dull the pain. This disabled man is living with excruciating pain with the result he has today consulted a private doctor for the pain. Being the Principal of a semi-rural nonprofit organisation caring for mentally and physically disabled children his remuneration is minimal and private doctors' fees are exorbitant in ratio to his earnings.
Mr Kgabo was diagnosed with a cancerous growth on 13 October, 2014 and was informed that his file would be transferred to Steve Biko Oncology Department. To date this file has not been transferred to allow this disabled man to receive treatment for cancer.
"Early detection of cancer is essential to the successful treatment" as stated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) who further advocates that the main goals of a cancer diagnosis and treatment programme are to cure or considerably prolong the life of patients and to ensure the best possible quality of life to cancer survivors; 12 weeks have now passed since Mr Kgabo's detection.
If WHO states "The most effective and efficient treatment programmes are those that: a) are provided in a sustained and equitable way; b) are linked to early detection; and c) adhere to evidence-based standards of care and a multidisciplinary approach. With this statement it seems that our health service in Gauteng is not affording Mr. Kgabo with the most effective and efficient treatment as he has not received treatment for cancer after 12 weeks.
I urgently ask for your intervention to have this disabled man admitted to Steve Biko Oncology Department for immediate treatment to this life threatening disease. 12 weeks delay is not effective and efficient patient treatment.
Claire Salmon Hoff
Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, October 21 2014
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