By: Matthew Savides And Nathi Olifant
Pastor Lawrence Naidoo took his last breath on February 25 last year.
In a Durban hospital‚ he lost his battle against colon cancer. He was 57 years old.
His family – who said they would not get over the loss “even in a million years” – has spoken out for the first time and claims that his death could have been avoided or‚ at the very least‚ that his life could have been extended.
His daughter Roxanne Premchund said in an interview that her father was a victim of the KwaZulu-Natal oncology crisis that‚ according to the Democratic Alliance‚ has resulted in 300 cancer patients dying over the last two years.
“We saw my dad suffering with the pain‚” Premchund said. “And the hospitals couldn't help.”
Her dad's ordeal started in September 2015.
After a year of being referred to different state hospitals‚ he was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer at the King Edward hospital in Durban. He was kept overnight and then transferred to the referral-only Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital for further tests.
“He was then sent back home and was asked to come back a few days later‚ when they told him that he would be needing radiation because the tumour was enlarged. It would therefore need to shrink before they could proceed with any surgical operations. It was a turning point in my dad's life. From a big‚ strong man he became so fragile‚” she said.
A month later‚ in October‚ Naidoo was promised treatment at Albert Luthuli – “but when he went there‚ all they could say‚ rudely‚ was that the machines are broken and there's nothing they can do”.
A month passed with no assistance.
“The treatment didn't start but the excuses continued. We took a decision that my dad should come to Johannesburg for treatment because the next date they gave him for treatment was May 2016. By November‚ he had reached stage 4.”
Eventually‚ in Johannesburg‚ he started treatment.
“His hopes got up and he felt alive again. He lived like he always did. He was back at church‚ preaching. He was happy. My dad was blessed with good‚ kind‚ caring‚ devoted doctors in Joburg General who gave him hope and always told him not to give up‚” said Premchund.
After 20 chemotherapy and radiation sessions‚ Naidoo was given a month’s break. He took the chance to travel to Durban to be with his wife and the rest of his family. But here tragedy struck.
“He fell and was admitted to King Edward. There he was treated with no respect. My dad started deteriorating. He finally became paralysed and he was practically left for dead. My dad took his final breaths with no loved ones around. Even the nurses didn't know the time of death‚” said Premchund.
She is adamant that earlier treatment in Durban could have made all the difference.
“If my dad had gotten treatment earlier he would definitely have had a chance of survival. He would have been here doing what he loved the most. He loved preaching the Word of God and he loved his family. Nowadays‚ some doctors and nurses forget the oath they took to care for patients‚” she said.
“Every day becomes harder because we keep having flashbacks of how much he suffered because he didn't get the treatment on time.”
The DA has blamed health authorities for turning a blind eye to cancer patients' agony.
The political party tried unsuccessfully to open culpable homicide charges against Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and KZN MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo on Wednesday.
But the police wanted a legal opinion and the DA claimed officers had asked for proof of the deaths. Closed high-level discussions with SAPS leadership were called for the afternoon.
The oncology crisis reached a head three months ago when the last state oncologist in Durban resigned‚ leaving just two employed in the province – both of them in Pietermaritzburg.
For several years‚ the sector has been rocked by revelations that cancer machines were out of order and that patients had to wait months for consultations.
The South African Human Rights Commission found that the provincial and national health departments had denied patients rights to healthcare.
The KZN health department said on Wednesday it would not comment and attempts to get comment from the national department were unsuccessful.
DA health spokesman Imran Keeka said police were deliberately obstructing the party's attempts to hold Motsoaledi and Dhlomo accountable for the cancer crisis.
Keeka said police were asking: “Where are the bodies?”
“They feel that there should be a body. They're looking for technicalities‚” he said.
“The DA will ensure that there is finally justice for the more than 300 cancer patients who tragically lost their lives‚” said Keeka.
-TimesLIVE
Source: TMG Digital.
My dad died because of KZN's oncology crisis
Pastor Lawrence Naidoo took his last breath on February 25 last year.
In a Durban hospital‚ he lost his battle against colon cancer. He was 57 years old.
His family – who said they would not get over the loss “even in a million years” – has spoken out for the first time and claims that his death could have been avoided or‚ at the very least‚ that his life could have been extended.
His daughter Roxanne Premchund said in an interview that her father was a victim of the KwaZulu-Natal oncology crisis that‚ according to the Democratic Alliance‚ has resulted in 300 cancer patients dying over the last two years.
“We saw my dad suffering with the pain‚” Premchund said. “And the hospitals couldn't help.”
Her dad's ordeal started in September 2015.
After a year of being referred to different state hospitals‚ he was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer at the King Edward hospital in Durban. He was kept overnight and then transferred to the referral-only Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital for further tests.
“He was then sent back home and was asked to come back a few days later‚ when they told him that he would be needing radiation because the tumour was enlarged. It would therefore need to shrink before they could proceed with any surgical operations. It was a turning point in my dad's life. From a big‚ strong man he became so fragile‚” she said.
A month later‚ in October‚ Naidoo was promised treatment at Albert Luthuli – “but when he went there‚ all they could say‚ rudely‚ was that the machines are broken and there's nothing they can do”.
A month passed with no assistance.
“The treatment didn't start but the excuses continued. We took a decision that my dad should come to Johannesburg for treatment because the next date they gave him for treatment was May 2016. By November‚ he had reached stage 4.”
Eventually‚ in Johannesburg‚ he started treatment.
“His hopes got up and he felt alive again. He lived like he always did. He was back at church‚ preaching. He was happy. My dad was blessed with good‚ kind‚ caring‚ devoted doctors in Joburg General who gave him hope and always told him not to give up‚” said Premchund.
After 20 chemotherapy and radiation sessions‚ Naidoo was given a month’s break. He took the chance to travel to Durban to be with his wife and the rest of his family. But here tragedy struck.
“He fell and was admitted to King Edward. There he was treated with no respect. My dad started deteriorating. He finally became paralysed and he was practically left for dead. My dad took his final breaths with no loved ones around. Even the nurses didn't know the time of death‚” said Premchund.
She is adamant that earlier treatment in Durban could have made all the difference.
“If my dad had gotten treatment earlier he would definitely have had a chance of survival. He would have been here doing what he loved the most. He loved preaching the Word of God and he loved his family. Nowadays‚ some doctors and nurses forget the oath they took to care for patients‚” she said.
“Every day becomes harder because we keep having flashbacks of how much he suffered because he didn't get the treatment on time.”
The DA has blamed health authorities for turning a blind eye to cancer patients' agony.
The political party tried unsuccessfully to open culpable homicide charges against Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and KZN MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo on Wednesday.
But the police wanted a legal opinion and the DA claimed officers had asked for proof of the deaths. Closed high-level discussions with SAPS leadership were called for the afternoon.
The oncology crisis reached a head three months ago when the last state oncologist in Durban resigned‚ leaving just two employed in the province – both of them in Pietermaritzburg.
For several years‚ the sector has been rocked by revelations that cancer machines were out of order and that patients had to wait months for consultations.
The South African Human Rights Commission found that the provincial and national health departments had denied patients rights to healthcare.
The KZN health department said on Wednesday it would not comment and attempts to get comment from the national department were unsuccessful.
DA health spokesman Imran Keeka said police were deliberately obstructing the party's attempts to hold Motsoaledi and Dhlomo accountable for the cancer crisis.
Keeka said police were asking: “Where are the bodies?”
“They feel that there should be a body. They're looking for technicalities‚” he said.
“The DA will ensure that there is finally justice for the more than 300 cancer patients who tragically lost their lives‚” said Keeka.
-TimesLIVE
Source: TMG Digital.
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