MEC Mashego hails successful Rural Health Outreach in Sekhukhune
SEKHUKHUNE(MATLALA)
The Limpopo MEC for Health, Dieketseng Mashego, has expressed excitement over the successful completion of the week-long Sekhukhune District Rural Health Matters Outreach, which took place from Monday 15 Saturday 20 September 2025.
The outreach aimed to reduce the surgical backlog in rural hospitals and improve access to specialized surgical services in underserved communities.
Neil Shikwambana, Limpopo Department of Health (LDoH) Spokesperson, said during the outreach, a total of 170 surgical operations were successfully performed across six hospitals in the district.
The hospitals include Philadelphia Hospital with 29 cases, St Rita’s Hospital clearing 29 cases, Matlala Hospital clearing 41 cases, Jane Furse Hospital also with 41 cases, Dilokong Hospital with 15 cases, and Mecklenburg Hospital also clearing 15 cases backlog.
“The surgeries were performed in various disciplines, including orthopaedic surgery with 25 surgeries executed, general surgery clearing of 41 cases, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) with 17 surgeries, 15 maxillo-facial surgeries, obstetrics and gynaecology with 15 cases cleared, 17 colposcopy procedures done, and 41 urology cases attended,” he said.
MEC Mashego commended the dedicated medical professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to support this initiative.
“Their commitment has not only helped reduce the surgical backlog but also restored hope and dignity to many patients in rural areas,” she said.
She said the initiative is part of the Limpopo Department of Health’s broader commitment to strengthen rural healthcare delivery and ensure equitable access to surgical care across all districts.
The outreach has had a significant impact on rural communities, providing access to specialized surgical services that were previously unavailable. Patients who received surgery say they are grateful for the care and attention they received from the medical professionals.
