Soweto Hospital Makes History After Performing First-Ever Heart Surgery on Grade 12 Stabbing Victim

• The Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital in Soweto made history by performing its first open-heart surgery
• The surgery was performed on Tumisang Motsikwa, who was stabbed while trying to save a fellow pupil from being mugged
• Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the successful surgery indicated a turning point for SA's public healthcare system

SOWETO - The Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital (BMDH) in Jabulani, Soweto, reached an incredible milestone over the weekend.

For the first time, the hospital successfully performed heart surgery on a 20-year-old Grade 12 pupil, Tumisang Motsikwa.

Grade 12 student stabbed in chest while saving mugging student

Motsikwa is an unsung hero who sustained a stab wound after trying to save a pupil from being mugged outside his school on Freedom Day, 27 April.

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The pupil was rushed to the hospital in a critical and unstable condition. Dr Ismail Ebrahim, who led the surgery, explained that heart surgery is usually done at tertiary or regional hospitals.

However, Motsikwa's injury did not permit him to be moved to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, eNCA reported.

Instead, a team of nurses and doctors operated on him as a matter of emergency. The surgery was a success and Motsikwa was discharged to go home on Friday, 5 May.

Gauteng Health MEC prases Soweto hospital's 1st ever heart surgery

For Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the surgery was not only a history-making operation for BMDH but a sign the tide is turning in South Africa's public healthcare system, News24 reported.

Nkaomo-Ralehoko said:

"There are now emerging glimmers of hope that do not only demonstrate the resilience of the healthcare system, but they go a long way to confirm that the interventions we are making are indeed yielding positive outcomes."

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South Africans

Below are some comments:

@MaagaJoycie commented:

"We pray for complete recovery for the brave hero."

@KustaMkhuseli11 said:

"Congratulations to him for getting a second chance in life..."

Princess Mashabane celebrated:

"Well done to the surgeon and the theatre staff."

Richard Allan Warwick added:

"Well done, now we just need to get hospitals to provide decent primary care."

Sarah Khumalo congratulated:

"Oh, that is good news for our hospitals, well done."

Baragwanath Hospital security guard's actions reunite babies with real mums after negligent discharge mistake

In another feel-good hospital story, Briefly News reported that a quick-thinking security official at Soweto's Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital rectified a grievous mistake made by nursing staff.

A newborn baby was mistakenly discharged with the wrong family, but when the security officer realised that the baby's tag didn't match the mother's name, he quickly intervened.

When the officer realised the mistake, he alerted the nursing staff and an investigation was conducted.

Source: Briefly News