Six charitable robotic surgeries, corresponding with Nelson Mandela’s iconic prison number 46664, will be performed at Bloemfontein’s Universitas Academic Hospital. Plans are afoot for partners to embark on surgeries which are part of celebrating Mandela Month, following an announcement by the University of the Free State (UFS) on Monday, 14 July.
The surgeries are set to be performed between 21 and 28 July. They are a private-public partnership involving the UFS. The participating partners include the Free State Department of Health, African Synergy Health (ASH), CMR Surgical, and Marcus Medical.
According to the university it will become the first public academic institution in South Africa to participate in these fully sponsored, charitable robotic surgeries.
Dr Nitha Ramnath, spokesperson for the university, said the surgeries will entail four surgeons, performing six robotic procedures, on six patients over six days, across four specialities – corresponding with Mandela’s prison number 46664.
“The surgeries will be performed in the Universitas Academic Hospital in the following specialities: urology, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB), colorectal, and upper gastrointestinal (GI) general surgery. This showcases the unique multidisciplinary robotic surgery capabilities located in the Universitas hospital in Bloemfontein. This initiative forms part of the Mandela Week Surgical Marathon hosted by ASH, a registered not-for-profit, public benefit organisation established to alleviate surgical backlogs in the public sector and other African hospitals. Following successful missions in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, this year’s programme aims to complete 67 charitable procedures per province, honouring Nelson Mandela’s legacy,” said Ramnath.
Prof. Corlia Janse van Vuuren, acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS, said that this initiative is testament to a space where technology meets compassion, where science serves humanity. “Through this, we are proud to contribute to former president Nelson Mandela’s vision of creating a better world for all who live in it.”
Janse van Vuuren said the series of surgeries resonates with this year’s theme for Mandela Month: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”
“The UFS, along with the various partners involved in this groundbreaking initiative, is proud to heed the call to action by participating in this pioneering initiative in honour of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of service, solidarity, and upliftment,” she said.
