Trailblazer
Dr Vhutshilo Netshituni is helping save the lives of children in Limpopo
Dr Vhutshilo Netshituni (36) is living up to her name and breathing life into Pietersburg Hospital's Paediatric Oncology Department in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Vhutshilo is a Venda word meaning life, and as the first black paediatric oncologist in the country, the doctor is doing all she can to save the lives of children with cancer admitted to Pietersburg Hospital.
Dr Netshituni is the only paediatric oncologist running the province's only ward that caters for children under the age of 15 who have cancer.The ward accommodates about 30 patients at a time.
A love for children
Armed with passion for what she does, Dr Netshituni says she has always had a special place in her heart for children and she was drawn to oncology.
“I always had an interest in oncology. I completed my internship at this hospital and I fell in love with the work that I was doing. I literally ran the ward as an intern, when my mentor was on leave, and I enjoyed it. I then attended an oncology workshop at the University of Cape Town and I decided to specialise in paediatric oncology because I fell in love with it.”
Dr Netshituni originates from Tshelephfene Village, located just outside Thohoyandou, but growing up in an impoverished home never stopped her from dreaming of becoming a doctor.
After completing her matric she went on to obtain her medical degree from the Sefako Makgatho Health Science University.
Rising above circumstances
“I never allowed my circumstances to determine who I would become. I had an interest in medicine and in helping people, that is why I became a doctor.”
While working as a student and conducting routine hospital visits, Dr Netshituni discovered that she loved working with children, which swayed her decision to specialise in paediatrics.
She says that her average day entails doing her rounds, examining patients who have just been admitted and those who are undergoing chemotherapy, and mentoring junior staff.
“I treat children from birth to the age of 15 for all types of cancer.”
“Kids are given the worst diagnosis, but they always keep smiling. Whether they are getting chemo or not they are so brave. I just want to help them.”
One of the hardest things that she sees in her job is when children seek help when it's too late.
“The most difficult part is that if they had come earlier they could have been cured completely. When they come to you when the cancer has already progressed to stage four there is nothing much that you can do for them.”
Wednesdays are the best days for Dr Netshituni and her team.
“On this day I see about 30 children at the hospital's day clinic.We are very busy but there is a buzz and excitement because we see follow-up patients who have completed their chemo and are recovering well.”
No matter how difficult the situation is in the ward Doctor Netshituni says that Wednesdays put a smile on her face when she sees positive signs of recovery.
Job challenges
Dr Netshituni experiences various challenges, including when patients miss their appointments when they start to feel better.
“Patients don't complete their treatment.They abscond when they start feeling better and this is really troubling,” she says.
Another challenge she faces is patients who have to travel long distances and don't have transport to get to the hospital.“At times they are also misdiagnosed at clinic level.”
She advises the community to keep trying to get help if they can see that there is something wrong with their child.
“Continue to go to the clinic. Don't sit at home hoping that the situation will change. Don't do doctor shopping.Stick to one doctor until you can find out what is wrong with your child.”
Irrespective of the challenges that Dr Netshituni continues to face she loves what she does.
“I love what I do, and I want to help these children. I could have gone for a lucrative career in the private sector, but the private sector is for the minority. Who is going to help the majority of the population if we all go into private practice?”
“Doing the job that I do is something that is within me. It keeps me alive knowing that I can make a difference and see the impact, especially in the area which is my home.”
Looking to the future
Dr Netshituni would love to have a bigger ward that could provide assistance to more patients and increase survival rates,which have been sitting at 35 percent for the past three years.
This is low compared to other provinces, mainly because patients visit the paediatric oncology ward when it's too late.Getting a new ward would be a dream come true.
“This ward is old. It was given to us because we needed space. If I could get a new, beautiful ward I would be the happiest person,” she says.
“We are always full and it shows that we have a lot of kids who have cancer in the province. Many people still think that only adults get cancer, but there are a lot of children.”
Dr Netshituni would also like to run awareness campaigns to make communities more aware of cancer.