KNYSNA NEWS - Five doctors, surgeons and anaesthetists, from Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town arrived in Knysna on Sunday, November 28 to assist Dr Martin Young in catching up on the backlog on ear, nose and throat operations for underprivileged patients.

Nine years ago Dr Martin Young and the Rotary Club of Knysna started working together in getting these doctors to Knysna every year. Over the past eight years they have performed between 450 and 500 operations of different levels of difficulty during the ENT Week.

These operations are performed at the Provincial Hospital from Monday to Friday with the very capable theatre staff assisting them. The team of doctors use newly developed instruments from different companies.

The Rotary Club of Knysna provides accommodation for the team. Desiree Jooste lets her house on the Leisure Island at a much reduced rate to the Rotary Club and Sotheby’s donates the cleaning staff during the week. The Rotarians supply breakfast and supper. On their arrival they enjoy supper with a group of Rotarians at the home of Rotary Past Presidents Ian and Joan Huskisson. The Cruise Café treats the team to dinner on the Monday night and on Tuesday night they are entertained at the home of Dr Martin Young, the local ENT specialist. The Rotary Club of Knysna hosts the group of doctors and nursing staff for a ’Thank You and Goodbye Braai’ at the Knysna Sport School on the Thursday evening.
The Rotary Anns provide all the teas, eats and lunches for the week.

The Rotary Club of Knysna, Dr Young's team and the nursing staff of the Provincial Hospital are to be highly commended for the voluntary work being done for the community of Knysna.


Dr Martin Young (far left) with his team of surgeons and anaesthetists who will perform operations during the Rotary’s ENT week. Next to him are drs Charles Dippenaar, Cameline Nyanarebvu, Oliver Raynham, Tashneen Harris, Veronica Koller and Headley Isserow.