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With enough bad news to go around, let us end the week off with a look at some great news from the past week that you might have missed.
Plettenberg Bay to potentially become a whale heritage site
On Wednesday, 26 October 2022, Plett Tourism excitedly announced Plett’s candidacy to become a Whale Heritage Site after being recognised for supporting rich marine biodiversity and ocean wildlife.
A Whale Heritage Site is an initiative by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) to recognise and accredit destinations across the world that support and demonstrate the importance of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and their ocean habitats. Furthermore, these sites empower communities to care for and protect these magnificent marine mammals. This, while encouraging respect for and celebration of cetaceans through local culture, arts and events, supporting local economic and environmental sustainability; and developing locally based science, research and education.
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South Africa becomes home to Ukrainian Lions rescued from war zone
As the Russian/Ukrainian Conflict continues, the war between the two countries has impacted more than just the Ukrainian population.
The Warriors of Wildlife (WOW) environmental organisation recently completed a successful rescue mission, when its team extracted two long-suffering lions from the Ukrainian war zone recently.
The two lions had sadly become prisoners of war, becoming collateral damage in the conflict, and were locked away in what WOW, termed as “unacceptable conditions”.
They were initially moved to a secure facility in Romania before being flown to South Africa to be released at the Simbonga Game Farm Sanctuary between Gqeberha and Jeffreys Bay.
Over 326,000 kilograms of waste removed from uMgeni riverbank
The uMgeni River has enjoyed a large clean up recently. As reported by GoodThingsGuy, due to ongoing illegal dumping along the uMgeni riverbank, a Durban-based business spearheaded a private-public-NPO river clean-up.
The initiative saw businesses work alongside the non-profit organisation, Adopt a River, and restore the riverbanks to its former glory.
However, it should be noted that the level of pollution was much worse than initially expected and saw the teams tackling 326,320 kgs of rubbish, requiring 40 trips to the landfill site and costing R190,000 in total.
With the project proving to be a success, the initiative speaks volumes of how much can be accomplished when people get together for the greater good of their environment.
Little girl gets second chance at life after intricate facial operation
Just over two years ago, Annelie’s parents noticed a swelling on the right side of their daughter’s face and took her to the general practitioner, thinking that it could have been mumps or a similar common childhood illness.
When the medicine prescribed for a gland infection failed to resolve the problem, the doctor referred the family to Paediatrician Dr Zakiyya Omarjee who ordered the tests needed for a diagnosis.
Dr Omarjee and the family consulted Paediatric surgeon Professor Daniel Sidler, who also practises at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital and a CT scan, MRI scan and surgical biopsy were performed.
Professor Sidler explained that they discovered the child had a rare kind of highly aggressive fibrous tumour, one of only a handful identified and all affecting young children. “The tumour was in one side of the child’s jaw, and it would require a highly complex surgery involving a multidisciplinary team,” he elaborated further.
Annelie’s father explained that Prof Sidler advised him and his wife that even though the tumour was not cancerous, Annelie would have to undergo a major operation, as the tumour was essentially eating into the right side of her jawbone.
“We were extremely worried and just trying to take in all the information about her diagnosis and what this actually meant for our daughter,” he said.
Dr Omarjee and the family consulted Paediatric surgeon Professor Daniel Sidler, who also practises at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital.
Dr Aniruth, assisted by Prof Sidler and Dr Ebrahim Parker, performed the removal of the tumour which involved soft tissue and bone resection. The 3-D pre-surgical planning was coordinated by Stacey Du Plessis of Selective Surgical, while anaesthetist Dr Cath Jackson ensured the child was safely and appropriately managed under the general anaesthetic.
“To help reduce the risk of the tumour recurring, we needed to remove some of the surrounding healthy tissue, and then in a single procedure also rebuild the child’s jaw so that she would have a complete face,” Dr Sidler.
Moreover, Dr Alexander Zühlke, a Micro, Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon was asked to join the multidisciplinary team and was responsible for restoring the missing section of bone from the child’s chin to the angle of her jaw at the back.
At her two-year follow-up with Maxillofacial and Oral surgeon Dr Ebrahim Parker, it was confirmed that the bone graft had fused onto the jaw and remained stable and functional.
“She is amazing, such a brave and strong little girl, our little girl. Each day she got better, climbing out of bed on the third day. Seeing her walk was a miracle on its own, and seeing her smile was so heart-warming, we are full of love for her and grateful to the whole team who assisted our daughter. The doctors and nurses, kitchen staff and everyone involved at the hospital made her feel so comfortable and special,” declared Annelie’s parents.
The list of great news happening all around us everyday is celebrated by Newcastillian News and we look forward to sharing more with you in the near future.
What are your thoughts on the above-mentioned? Share your views in the comments section below.
