Steve Biko calls for better understanding of people living with skin disease
The call comes after the hospital operated on twins from Mpumalanga suffering from a rare skin condition.
Steve Biko Academic Hospital wants residents to treat people living with skin conditions with understanding.
This comes after the hospital recently operated on a set of twins from Mpumalanga who suffer from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a rare disease of expansion and contraction of the skin leading to extreme dryness and delay in its ability to repair and heal.
The disease may affect the brain and manifest early development of cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).
The Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces agreed to partner in treating visually impaired twins, Lwanele Sibongile and Lwandile Bonga Mkhonza, who were born in 2007 in Bethal, Mpumalanga.
“The hospital is honoured to be recognised as an institution that provides cutting-edge intervention to patients and is proud to be part of the treatment team, providing medical intervention to the twins,” said acting CEO, Dr Lehlohonolo Majake.
“XP children have recurrent conjunctival malignancies and extremely dry eyes. We have treated a number of these over the years, assessing for recurrence of tumours and excising them, including aesthetics and reconstruction if necessary.”
Mpumalanga health identified Steve Biko as a centre of excellence that could provide cutting-edge medical treatment for the twins.
MEC for health Sasekani Manzini visited the twins at Steve Biko and engaged with hospital management about their treatment.
Manzini also phoned her counterpart in Gauteng, MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and the two agreed to ensure the twins continue to receive the best medical treatment possible.
“This condition bears severe psychological trauma. A biopsychosocial approach is required to manage such cases. We plead with the community to be understanding of all children with XP, as they often need to come out at night and to view it as a medical condition without superstitious innuendos,” said Majake.
The two provinces have ensured the medication the twins require will be stocked and easily available.
In addition, Nkomo-Ralehoko and Manzini agreed to unlock any medical access across governmental institutions to ensure the twins’ medical needs are supported.
“This partnership will strengthen the relationship between the two provinces, opening up avenues for teaching and training of medical specialists, also streamlining the referral systems – providing optimal healthcare to all citizens,” said Majake.
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