UKZN's Surgical Marathon transformed the lives of 74 patients in KwaZulu-Natal.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has helped provide life-changing surgical care to 74 patients during the KwaZulu-Natal leg of the 2026 African Synergy Health (ASH) Mandela Week Surgical Marathon, significantly reducing elective surgery waiting lists in the province.
Over five days, from July 6 to 10, urology specialists and registrar doctors from UKZN worked alongside public and private healthcare partners at Victoria Mxenge–St Aidan's Hospital Tertiary Complex in Durban and Ngwelezana Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Empangeni.
The teams carried out a range of complex urological procedures, including surgery to correct congenital birth defects, reconstruct damaged urethras, and remove kidneys or testes affected by cancer.
The 74 patients treated during the marathon contributed to the national campaign's target of treating at least 200 patients during Mandela Month.
