GEORGE NEWS - Breast cancer will affect one in eight South African women during their lifetime, making initiatives such as Project Flamingo's catch-up surgery programme all the more significant.
On Saturday 18 July, a team of 28 volunteer medical professionals donated their time at George Hospital to perform breast cancer surgeries for patients in the public healthcare system, helping to reduce lengthy surgical waiting lists.
Project Flamingo is a South African non-profit organisation that provides holistic breast cancer care for vulnerable patients, supporting them from diagnosis through surgery, aftercare and psychological services.
George Hospital's CEO, Tshepo Kau, expressed his gratitude to the project and all the partners involved. "This successful partnership demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together. By mobilising volunteer surgeons and anaesthetists who generously donate their time and expertise, Project Flamingo leverages existing hospital infrastructure at no additional capital cost, while meaningfully expanding our surgical capacity. I am honoured to be a participating partner in this initiative," he said.
Kau commended Project Flamingo's founder, Dr Liana Roodt, and her team for their extraordinary dedication. "I also extend my sincere gratitude to every volunteer surgeon, anaesthetist and nursing professional who has contributed to this work at our hospital. You are changemakers in the truest sense," he said.
Doctors from George Hospital who participated were Dr Chanel Changfoot, Dr Kevin Polden and Dr Anna Wang.
The volunteer team was supported by the Seattle Coffee Co, which provided meals and a selection of individually packaged snacks for the healthcare professionals taking part in the programme.
"Keeping that team fed and cared for on the day is a small contribution compared with theirs, but it is one we are proud to make," said Hein Giliomee, Seattle Coffee Co's regional partner in the Garden Route.
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