Mediclinic Donates Almost 500 Skin Staplers to Khayelitsha Hospital

Mediclinic Southern Africa donated 490 disposable skin staplers worth R40 000 to Khayelitsha Hospital, the state hospital with the busiest emergency centre in the Western Cape.

Skin staplers are used in emergency centres and other surgical settings, such as theatres, to close wounds that would usually require suturing. One of the benefits associated with using the staplers is that the wound site heals faster than with traditional stitches.

Transformation Executive: Mediclinic Southern Africa, Dr Mvula Yoyo, said the company actively engages in private public initiatives with the state healthcare sector to help bring effective, affordable healthcare to more South Africans. “We have successfully worked with our colleagues in the public sector on several projects aimed at alleviating key pressure points at Western Cape hospitals – such as theatre waiting lists, equipment and training. We believe that continued collaboration is a critical element in building a sustainable healthcare system in South Africa.”

Mediclinic has previously assisted the department with specialised beds for the Tygerberg Hospital cardiac unit and the Saturday Surgeries project with the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, thanked Mediclinic for the donation. “The donation is another demonstration of Mediclinic’s support for the health sector. This support leverages co-accountability by all stakeholders in the health sector for the health of our people. We are grateful for this support.”

Khayelitsha Hospital operates the busiest emergency centre in the province, and one of the busiest in the country. The average bed occupancy is 140%.  The emergency centre treats more than 3 000 emergency medical and trauma clients per month.