Aobakwe Selebogo

This week, Mamelodi Hospital performed its first cystoscopy surgery to five patients who have been on the waiting list at the referral hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH).
Cystoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a camera is introduced into the bladder through the urethra to either diagnose a pathology or to treat a medical condition affecting the urethra or bladder.
The procedure was performed on patients who had urethral strictures, suspected malignancies of the bladder and failure of medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The surgery was led by Mamelodi Hospital's, Dr Reza Carrim who has extensive experience in urology and Steve Biko Head of Department for Urology Dr Kgomotso Mathabe.
"I believe that services should be offered to our patients based on the needs of the community and not the designation of the hospital. Half of our patients are male, and while treatment for genitourinary pathologies are readily made available to our female patients, it is crucial for our hospital to have its own urology department as this will help improve patient care," said Dr Carrim.
The head of surgery at the Mamelodi Hospital, Dr Mbuyiselo Mbava expressed their   excitement at being able to perform common urological pathologies which will bring relieve to SBAH and enable the facility to focus on its tertiary care services.  .
"When we perform basic urology surgeries like cystoscopies at Mamelodi Regional Hospital, we are ensuring that any patient being referred to SBAH for tertiary care is properly worked up, and that the doctors there don't need to be overwhelmed by relatively basic conditions, but instead can focus on treating more complex patients," said Dr Mbava.
Mamelodi Regional Hospital CEO, Dr Naing Soe congratulated the team of surgeons for their drive and dedication in delivering high-quality health care and ensuring that the needs of the patients are prioritised. 
"It is impressive and commendable that the team was able to execute this much-needed procedure especially during the current pressures that our health system is experiencing," said Dr Soe.