MEC vows to support paralysed doctor

Former doctor Nerissa Pather looked a little uncomfortable among all the strangers in her lounge on Friday afternoon.

The Umhlanga mother of one was the centre of attraction when the KwaZulu-Natal health MEC, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, visited her after the TV documentary programme Special Assignment screened the story of how she became infected with TB meningitis eight years ago.

The young doctor was completing her two-year community service at Durban's King Edward Hospital.

TB meningitis is an infection of the meninges, a system of membranes in the brain.

Because of the infection, she is a paraplegic and is unable to do anything without the help of others, including raising her daughter, who was born the same year she became infected.

Pather, 34, later suffered a stroke, which left the right side of her body paralysed. She has experienced complications resulting from her medication, including deafness and kidney infections.

In addition, the hospital stopped paying her salary, as she was regarded as a "ghost employee".

Her husband, Shane Maharaj, who runs a private practice in Um-hlanga, said the family had also not received any compensation from the Health Department.

Maharaj said they had gone public with his wife's story to ensure "that no one else has to endure what we have endured".

Dhlomo said: "It is very important for me to concentrate on this family and TB, because people believe that you get TB only if you live in a shack or are poor."

He added that he would speak to the hospital's chief executive to ensure that Pather was compensated.

"She has paid the highest price any healthcare professional can pay."

Her mother and primary caregiver, Dhan- nes Pather, said she was overwhelmed by the MEC's visit.