Groote Schuur Hospital is currently facing a massive backlog of 1500 essential surgeries that will take R15 million to clear.
According to the hospital, approximately 6000 individuals are in need of vital surgery, a number that accumulated over the last two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports News24.
Groote Schuur spokesperson Alaric Jacobs stated that the massive loss of operating time is mainly due to the crucial reallocation of healthcare workers to tend to patients that were severely affected by COVID-19.
To combat the backlog, a fundraising campaign was launched on Tuesday, 25 January. Gift of the Givers has generously donated R5 million to jump-start the campaign but has urged the public and businesses to help in raising funds to ensure that these crucial surgeries are done as soon as possible, as per EWN.
The campaign has been titled the Surgical Recovery Project with the first in line being critical patients. The project is set to run alongside the hospitals normal influx of surgeries with the first batch of essential operations expected to commence in May 2022.
Jacobs once again reiterated the importance of raising funds for this project, concluding that each R10 000 raised could mean an operation for an individual who is waiting for a joint replacement, cataract removal or cancer surgery.
For more information or to donate, head to the GSH Trust.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc Gallery