Staff Writer 
A collaborative partnership between the North West and Gauteng provincial Department of Health has led to the successful performing of the first-ever open-heart surgery at a provincial referral hospital in the North West Province. 
Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital supported by the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) achieved the historical milestone on Friday, May 24. 
The patient is a 38-year-old Martha Vanstawel who has been known to the Gauteng Cardiac Services since 2006. She suffered from mitral regurgitation (a leaking valve) with a sub-mitral aneurysm (abnormal swelling of the heart). The surgery was recommended as far back as 2006, but she declined surgery back then as she was not emotionally ready. A decade later the patient agreed to have the surgery. 
The discussions to start cardiac services at the Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital complex date back to 2010, with structural planning beginning a decade later. Heart operations, by their very nature, require enormous capital investments, manpower, and infrastructure. As such, this feat could only be achieved by careful planning and execution. 
Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital dedicated itself to achieving all the necessary requirements by renovating its theatres during the COVID-19 pandemic and acquiring the necessary equipment. At the same time, various plenary meetings were held between the two hospitals to prepare for the now successful surgery. 
The hospital management, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthetists, perfusionists and theatre-trained nurses supported by physicians, cardiologists and the clinical engineering team supported these efforts equally on both sides which led to the culmination of this historic achievement. 
The patient is doing well and is on the road to recovery in hospital. This demonstrates that the intensive care unit at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital is equally suited to managing complex cases. 
Expressing her gratitude Martha said "I am grateful for the care and treatment I received so far. I am also thankful that the operation was done here at home, where my family can easily come to see me. Thank you, all the doctors and nurses, and everyone who made this operation a success". 
The CMJAH team performing the surgery was led by Dr Tumi Taunyane, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who originally hails from Klerksdorp, and Dr Palesa Motshabi Chakane, Head of Anaesthesia. The Klerksdorp - Tshepong Hospital team was led by Dr Akin Ogunrombi (Thoracic Surgeon) and Dr Aunell Mallier (Anaesthetist). 
Cardiac surgical patients needing heart operations at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital have been referred to other centers in Bloemfontein and CMJAH Hospital. However, this initiative is bound to alleviate the pressure on the waiting times for surgery at central hospitals. 
Other team members who contributed to the successful surgery included the CEOs Ms Bogoshi of Charlotte Maxeke and Mr Madonsela of Klerksdorp-Tshepong, the line managers and clinicians (CMJAH - Drs Afrika, Ngobese, Mbandazayo, Nkuna and Prof Luvhengo; Tshepong – Prof Luke, Drs Leburu, Burcan, Sebastian, Machaba, Mathibane, Du Toit and Samuel), the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery personnel at CMJAH, who ensured that services were continued as normal at CMJAH, the hospitals executive committees, the nursing teams (CMJAH – Srs Phosa and Mathebula; Tshepong – Srs Blanket, Phitsane, Mofokeng and Maredi ), Perfusionists (CMJAH – Ms Maila, Ntame and Dire; Tshepong – Ms Ngubo) supported by Mr N Tladi, and the Engineers (Tshepong: Mrs Gomes), Tshepong Theatre and ICU nurses: Sr Ndala and Sr Monica Davids.