A large percentage of South Africa’s rural population are farmworkers. Working on a farm, in whichever capacity, is a physically demanding job that requires a person to be in top health. At the young age of only 40, Alfred ‘Sly’ Ngobeni’s hip dysplasia made his work on a horse farm in Mpumalanga nearly impossible.
Being a farm worker from a disadvantaged community, Sly forms part of a low-income socio-economic group in our country and was therefore not able to afford the medical intervention he needed to be able to live life pain-free. Sly’s case came to Operation Healing Hands’ attention early last year. After the appropriate screening, he was given the good news: he will be undergoing life-changing surgery – free of charge!
On former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday last year, 18 July 2019, Sly received bilateral hip replacement surgery at Life Wilgers Hospital. His operation formed part of Operation Healing Hands’ Mandela Month Campaign – the month during which we honour the legacy left by Mr Mandela.
Since his surgery, Sly was able to return to his life with a new zest for life. His new hips enable him to work independently and better than ever before. Sly can, once again, provide for his family without having to endure immense pain.
Article by Magriet Stander
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