Meet Raeez

Mom, Ibtishaam, has brought her 21-month-old son, Raeez, to Victoria Hospital’s Paediatric Outpatient Department to attend the allergy clinic. This tiny department serves a vast community in the South Peninsula of Cape Town, and offers a variety of clinics and primary health care services: a neurodevelopment clinic, an eye clinic, a hearing clinic, antenatal care and treatment follow-up visits on various days throughout the week. With three or more consultations often happening at the same time, and in a shared space, you would expect complaints about the cramped facility. However, Ibtishaam, like the many other parents who often leave with gratitude and relief, will tell you how much they value this service in their community, and how safe they feel in the capable hands of the dedicated medical staff.

“Excellent, and thorough” is how Ibtishaam describes the care she has received from Victoria Hospital’s Paediatric OPD.

“I think they just need a bigger space,” she says, “because it gets quite full here sometimes. There needs to be a play area and maybe a separate toilet where you could change nappies.” She giggles as she confesses that she was quite worried about where she would change her son’s nappy. She’d have to catch him first! She quickly calls Raeez back into the small waiting room. This busy toddler wants to explore. This is his first visit here, and Ibtishaam thinks he may have eczema. She trusts that a thorough examination by the doctors at Victoria Hospital’s paediatric allergy clinic will shed more light on the matter. The thoroughness of the doctors is what stands out for this mom.

“You know, you get to see different people here all the time and you don’t always get to see the same person, so it’s not just one doctor. They really take care of you. They’re not just here to sign a new prescription and have you walk away. They’ve attended to our needs, truly.”

This may be Raeez’s first visit, but his siblings have been here before, and their mom knows that she can rely on the medical community here at Victoria Hospital and their links to Red Cross. The knowledge that her children’s health is in good hands gives her the peace and support to be able to focus on the busy task of being a mom. As she prepares to enter the month of Ramadan, Ibtishaam is confident that her little boy will receive the help and care he needs to cope with his allergies, so that the whole family can more peacefully experience the sanctity of this time.

“It’s a very special month, well, the most important month for us. To me, I see it as a special opportunity to get closer to God. Traditionally, we fast all day and break our fast at sunset. We’ll have a small feast at night with family, and share that with neighbours. We make little cakes for neighbours and family and friends, and we share. It’s a beautiful time.”

Ibtishaam and Raeez leave the allergy clinic with smiles. Today they shared in the love that is available to all our children at a hospital dedicated to making our communities stronger, by making our children better.

When you donate, 100% of your donations will go towards helping little ones like Rameez and his family to receive the best quality healthcare that they deserve.

As a District Hospital, Victoria provides emergency, general and specialist inpatient and outpatient care to adults and children and often refers children to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital for subspecialist care, surgery, and Intensive Care. Together, we can be victorious to build and expand the currently cramped and under- ventilated Paediatric Outpatient Department to create a multipurpose, child-friendly space for little ones to thrive.

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