As general surgeons, some procedures performed include • Gastroscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy

• ERCP

• Appendix removal • Gallbladder removals, • Thyroid surgeries

• Breast surgeries including reduction and reconstruction • Gastrointestinal Surgeries • Hemorrhoids, fissures and fistula

• Hernia repairs

• Lung Surgery

• Vascular access surgeries • Bariatric surgeries

• Trauma

• And many others…

State-of-the-Art Surgical Care Kai –Brown surgical Centre provides an extensive range of specialized surgical procedures including general surgery, endoscopy, vascular, thoracic, gastrointestinal, breast and kidney transplant surgeries. Thanks to advances in medical technology, many of the procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and via minimal invasive surgery. Kai-Brown surgical Centre offers the latest equipment for minimally invasive surgery designed to return patients home as quickly as possible.

seeking healthcare services across the continent,” explains Iithete. “Travelling to foreign countries in search of better healthcare services and in doing so depriving opportunities to develop their own services on the continent. COVID-19 has presented an opportunity for countries to spend resources internally to fund services in Africa. All of us within the industry can now look and see how we embrace the opportunity, and we would like to achieve a healthcare system that responds to our communities’ needs.”

With the effects of COVID-19 felt worldwide, Ongwediva Medipark, like many organisations, weren’t fully prepared to deal with a pandemic, however, having been impacted later than others in the industry, could learn from the experiences of others. “At Medipark, we coordinated to ensure that we protected both our employees as well as clients and stakeholders,” discusses Iithete. “We coordinated through the Oshana Regional COVID-Response Unit and ensured that we set up a screening unit which is comprised of gatescreening, casualty/outpatient screening and cordoning off a Patients Under Investigations Ward.

“We also established a 20-bed COVID-19 Isolation Ward which was fully equipped to cater for moderate to severe diseased patients including an in-house radiology unit, pharmacy and ventilatory support capabilities. We have two fully fledged clinical laboratories that also support COVID19 investigations and monitoring.”

In May 2020, and in a bid to aid the country’s COVID-19 response, Ongwediva Medipark made a donation to the Oshakati hospital’s isolation facility. The donation consisted of two ventilators, a monitor, a suction unit and an emergency trolley. Ongwediva

Medipark has contributed significantly to the COVID-19 response, not just nationally but also regionally too. At the time, Dr Tshali Iithete commented: “We are cognisant of the fact that ventilation is critical in managing patients with COVID-19 who present severe respiratory compromise,” he said. “There is a critical shortage of ventilators worldwide. This shortage is even more glaring in our country. Ongwediva Medipark has also committed specialised skills to the regional COVID-19 response measures, including specialist doctors, nurses and IT technicians.”

Staff are an important pillar to Ongwediva Medipark and to recognise that, there are various forms of employment benefit. “We are constantly looking at other innovative measures to keep staff who have embraced the concept of a ‘Medipark Family’,” explains Iithete. “It is also important to motivate healthcare workers during this period of economic hardships amidst this unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19.”

Looking ahead, Iithete has clear aims for the future and believes it is fundamental to strengthen before expanding.

“First and foremost, it’s important to consolidate our existing set up. In the future, we will expand to cater for the various surgical disciplines such as Cardiothoracic and Minimal Invasive Surgery,” he discusses. “The journey of Medipark has taken us through various stages. But ultimately, we would like to be considered as a medical hub and centre of excellence in healthcare within Africa.”

“WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT OTHER INNOVATIVE MEASURES TO KEEP STAFF WHO HAVE EMBRACED THE CONCEPT OF A MEDIPARK FAMILY” – DR TSHALI IITHETE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ONGWEDIVA MEDIPARK