{"id":296140,"date":"2026-04-09T14:23:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/?p=296140"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:36:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:36:51","slug":"beloved-doctor-retires-after-18-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/beloved-doctor-retires-after-18-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved doctor retires after 18 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>MTHATHA &#8211; <\/strong>After 18 years of dedicated service as a family physician at Mthatha General Hospital, Dr Ramprakash Kaswa, a pillar of the community, has retired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With compassion and expertise, he provided care to countless patients, built lasting relationships, and championed universal healthcare access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I came to Mthatha on 1 January 2007; it&#8217;s my 18th year. I received love and support from the people of Transkei and my employers, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Walter Sisulu University. Along this journey, I was blessed with many friends and colleagues who supported me. I am going to miss all of them, especially the simplicity of the people of Mthatha,&#8221; he told the Express.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He shared that working at Mthatha Regional Hospital was fulfilling, especially when patients he&#8217;d cared for would recognise him on the street or in the mall, thanking him for his help &#8211; a feeling that stood out during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FB_IMG_1775024249284_51832.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:475px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Staff at the Mthatha Regional Hospital are bidding farewell to Dr Ramprakash Kaswa (front, second from left).  PHOTO: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Kaswa has also inspired generations of healthcare professionals as a Senior Lecturer at Walter Sisulu University and a Specialist Family Physician at Mthatha Regional Hospital. His research and editorial work have advanced healthcare in the region, and his kindness, wisdom, and dedication will leave a lasting legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He told the <em>Express<\/em> that he will now be joining the District Clinical Specialist Team (DCST) post at the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District in Gqeberha and will continue to work in primary healthcare to improve the quality of healthcare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My ongoing mission is to ask the people, &#8216;Does healthcare deliver?&#8217; I am looking forward to working with the Nelson Mandela Bay health district community,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After 18 years of dedicated service as a family physician at Mthatha General Hospital, Dr Ramprakash Kaswa, a pillar of the community, has 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