Pietermaritzburg doctor Sihle Ngobese says his mission is to give back, educate and restore the self-esteem of people living with unusual lumps and bumps on their bodies. “Lipomas, cysts and keloids are not seen as emergencies or life-threatening, which is why they are often not attended to in public hospitals. “Private surgeries can cost up to R28 000, which many people simply can’t afford,” he said.
Ngobese, who grew up in Pietermaritzburg and went to school in Imbali, said he always wanted to give back because he owed his achievements to his community. I went to medical school at UKZN through a bursary from the Department of Health. “My mother worked in a factory and could never have afforded to take me to university, so I owe it to the community to return the favour, he said.” He said showcasing the procedures publicly also serves as encouragement to young doctors who are struggling to find employment, giving them ideas on how to start their own practices and meet the growing need for these types of surgeries.
Ngobese said patients travel from as far as Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg to have their growths removed. “As much as these lumps may not be physically painful, they affect a person’s confidence.
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