Language equips doctor to bring healing to rural areas
SOME doctors, even those who speak isiXhosa or isiMpondo, would not be able to understand what some elderly patients from remote rural areas say to them during consultations.
But this is not the case with Dr Zuki Jafta, who was honoured by her peers last week in the South African Medical Association (Sama) for her contribution against cancer, especially in bringing patients in early for testing.
In fact, she says language is what helps her fulfil her calling, which is exactly this: reaching out to rural communities and encouraging people to seek medical treatment for cancer.
Jafta heads the oncology unit at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha.
She said being able to explain cancer to rural and elderly people in isiXhosa is what allows them to open up more to her.
“It feels wonderful to be able to speak to my patients in a way they understand.
“What is even better is for them to be able to articulate clearly what they are presenting with because they know I will understand,” she said.
Jafta said she has had patients say: ubuhlungu buhla ngomchachazo buyothi ncokro ngethambo lika skrotyana [“the pain is coming down from the spine to the pelvis and sacrum”].
Jafta said to translate this loosely as having back pain would not capture the quality, severity and intensity of the pain felt by the patient.
Jafta has worked in the most rural parts of the province, including Lusikisiki and Flagstaff.
“It has been a pleasure to serve a community that is so desperate for such basic information and they do not even have a way of thanking you.
“We want people to test early so that they can be treated early. It is sad to have patients only come in when the cancer is already at stage three or four and not much can be done.
“Early detection is key. We are also working on getting patients to speak to their neighbours about their experiences so that people do not feel so alone,” she said.
Sama provincial chairman Dr Mzulungile Nodikida said they were extremely proud of Jafta.
“Sama recognises the wonderful work that Dr Zuki Jafta has done by bringing the oncology services closer to the poorest of the poor in our province,” he said.
“We have seen the suffering of the people of that part of our province having to travel up to four days from their homes, some sleeping on chairs just to catch a bus [in Mthatha] that will then take them to East London to access oncology services.
“Her appointment will help bring an end to the painful suffering of our people in the eastern region of our province,” Nodikida said.
Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital chief executive Nomalanga Makwedini said: “She is a hardworking and outstanding doctor who always put her patients first.” —