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CONFIDENT: Branny Mthelebofu, a researcher from Soweto, is striving to bring awareness about patients who use the colostomy bag. PHOTO: VELI NHLAPO

Branny Mthelebofu, who studied for Bachelor of Science degree, has become an "expert" at using a colostomy bag, which is a surgical bag that is attached to a patient's abdomen and is used to collect faeces.

However, using it can be complicated as patients have to deal with the smell of the bag's contents and have to constantly keep the bag attached to their stomach.

In partnership with the Gauteng department of health in 2009, Mthelebofu researched stomas at public hospitals in Ekurhuleni, which revealed a high number of people who had stoma operations.

A stoma is a surgically created opening in the body. The research also showed that there was a need for nurses who specialised in treating people with stoma operations.

"This condition seems to be a taboo subject, and many people are walking about hiding their colostomy bags out of self-pity," says Mthelebofu.

Besides the research, he is currently canvassing to have a special course on stoma for nurses made available in South Africa. He has also shot a documentary about his own experiences as a person who has lived with a colostomy bag for six months.

Mthelebofu was shot in the abdomen in 2000 and was operated on to repair damage caused by the bullet.

"It was something new and very complicated. I couldn't study or be around people because of the smelly bag. I was stressed and I had no family support because they did not understand it either. I lost friends, too," he said.

Gauteng department of health's deputy director in the epidemiology and research unit, Dr Mupata Likibi, who was the co-investigator in the research, says the government is challenged in dealing with stoma patients.

"It's a public health issue and the nurses aren't trained to specialise in this field. The government also doesn't seem to consider such training. If the colostomy is not cared for properly and the patient is not informed, it can lead to depression and infections that can cause death," says Likibi. - sifilel@sowetan.co.za

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Wed Jun 19 23:32:26 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 31, 2012

kudi

so is there any improvement that would be done
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Jul 31, 2012

Papgat

Yah! this is challenging. I think the research should look around on how to patch the interstine.
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Jul 31, 2012

MommaC

I have a friend who had a stoma for 18 months. There wasn't any smell. Is it dependant on the person being correctly trained to deal with it or the type of bag they use?
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Jul 31, 2012

Mamelodian

What is the average life span of people with this illness? I'd loose my will to live.
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Jul 31, 2012

MommaC

Mamelodian

Being shot isn't really an 'illness'
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Jul 31, 2012

Eraser

yhoo this is bad.
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Jul 31, 2012

Lehido

cant they think of an improved solution?
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Jul 31, 2012

JANEL

Every person who has a colostomy should visit a stoma nurse. Every stoma is unique and needs specific materials, bags, etc. If they bag is not air-tight it will smell. Best care I could get for my mother (74) was from Sister Jane Poole at Wits Donald Gordon in Parktown Tel 011 482 1309. It changed my mother's life and acceptance to her stoma bag. It's all realy simple if dealt with effectively and with kindness, compassion and care.
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Jul 31, 2012

imd

I lost friends, too," he said.
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you beter off without them blv me

What is a stoma?? cant get it ....
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Aug 2, 2012

Mamelodian

MommaC who said it's only people that got shot who have Stoma?
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