Two young South Africans who recently underwent corrective cardiac surgery with the assistance of the Vodacom Foundation this week celebrated their new-found health with one of the nation's favourite grandmothers.
Perseverance Mahle of Katlehong and Ncgebo Khambule of Ermelo and their mothers joined Mama Albertina Sisulu for a celebration at her home in Johannesburg.
Both children are beneficiaries of the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre Trust, which provides corrective cardiac surgery for disadvantaged children from all over Africa with the assistance of funding from various donors.
To date, the Vodacom Foundation has assisted 18 children to receive cardiac surgery from the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA), based at the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg.
The WSPCCA is the largest paediatric cardiac unit in Africa and is regarded as one of the finest centres of its kind in the world. Both the Trust and the Centre are named after Mrs Sisulu's late husband.
A clearly delighted Mama Sisulu warmly embraced the two children and thanked Vodacom and the team at the WSPCCA for their work.
Her words of gratitude were echoed by Ncgebo's mother, Bongi Mthethwa, who said: "Thank you for giving my son a chance to be what he wants to be. I pray that he will give something back to the community."
Since the inception of paediatric cardiac surgery in the late 1950s and early 1960s, phenomenal growth has been witnessed in this form of surgery. Today, according to the WSPCCA, almost all cardiac conditions in children can be corrected, or at least well palliated.
Due to a lack of funding, however, only a small fraction of the children of Africa who require corrective cardiac surgery actually receive it. While treatment can rectify cardiac problems in more than 95% of cases, less than 20% of children in South Africa requiring surgery currently receive treatment. Elsewhere on the African continent, the situation is even bleaker, with only 1% of children receiving the surgery required. [Information supplied by WSPCCA.]
The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa Trust was established as a vehicle to raise funds to make correctable cardiac surgery available, accessible and affordable to deserving children of Africa.
With the exception of South Africa, there are only a few isolated centres in Africa where children with heart conditions can receive the treatment they need. Until recently, paediatric cardiac surgery in Africa was a luxury available only to the privileged few.
Today, however, young patients are referred to the WSPCCA from both South Africa and the rest of Africa. Funds made available from the Trust enable members of the surgical and medical teams to perform life saving heart operations on babies and children whose families are unable to pay for this vital surgery, or whose medical insurance cover is insufficient.
The average cost of surgery is around R200 000. With the support of Netcare in the form of discounts and donations, as well as donations from surgeons and other medical personnel and services, the cost of surgery at WSPCCA is in the region of R140 000 per patient.
In acknowledgement of all donors to the WSPCCA, a Tree of Life adorns a wall in the reception area of the Sunninghill Hospital. Plaques with sponsors' names form the base and anchor of the tree, while "leaves" bearing recipients names and commemorating each successful operation are attached to the branches.
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