Local baby eventually receives heart operation

By Odette Ismail

Bridgetown baby Shakier Tofa finally had his heart operation on Wednesday at the Red Cross Children’s hospital, after he was sent away three times. Shakier’s surgery was arranged for May 23, but it was rescheduled to June 19 and then again to Monday this week. According to the Cape Argus the baby’s parents, Nadeema and Ali Tofu were extremely upset and concerned about their child’s life. Spokeswoman for the Red Cross hospital said that the reasons for the delays were ‘ increase in service pressures.’ She says this results in less intensive care unit beds and so like Shakier who needed ‘post operative care’ had to come back for surgery on another date. Shakier eventually had his surgery on Wednesday morning after it was rescheduled again this Monday.