SEBOKENG – A state-of-the-art stoma clinic was recently launched at Sebokeng Hospital. The clinic, a product of a collaboration between the hospital and Coloplast, supported by OMS Medical, will provide specialised care and further improve the quality of services to stoma patients by the hospital.

A stoma is a surgical opening in your abdomen for waste to come out. It is created when a part of the intestine or urinary tract is not working correctly due to a disease, injury, or other medical reasons.

According to Wendy Dudley, Head of Nursing Services at Coloplast, a stoma is caused by various diseases. Dudley highlighted that the clinic is a centre of excellence where patients with stomas will enjoy high-quality services while being provided with the privacy they need.

“It is also a place of good governance where standards of dealing with stoma patients will be set.”

Nursing Manager Kenneth Sejeng said the launch marked the end of a long journey of building the clinic, and the beginning of a beautiful partnership. Sejeng said stoma patients have the right to dignity and care. He highlighted that a Stoma is a sensitive condition, stating that the patients should be taken care of from head to toe.

Sejeng said that the birth of the clinic highlights the importance of public-private partnerships where private companies and government institutions come together to better the lives of communities.

Stoma patient Sibongile Dlamini (25), who was diagnosed with complicated appendicitis and abdominal TB, gave a touching testimony of how the doctors and nurses fought for her life when she had already given up.

Dlamini explains that she was very ill before her emergency operation. Following her surgery, Dlamini said she made a conscious decision to live her life positively, work hard, and make her dreams come true.

“I have been given a second chance to live. I always say to myself, If not me, then who? I am not embarrassed by my condition; instead, I go out there and educate people about this condition.”

Dlamini thanked Coloplast for their product, which she said makes her comfortable, adding that she can sleep, swim, and do anything she puts her mind to.
Nurses said they are happy that they now have a clinic which will enable them to treat patients daily instead of once a week.