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OBSERVATIONS: Jane Cassidy The soap opera that saves lives BMJ 2008; 336: 1102-1103 [Full text]

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The soap opera that saves lives

Ronald F Ingle   (6 June 2008)

The soap opera that saves lives 6 June 2008
Ronald F Ingle, Retired Durban Send response to journal: Re: The soap opera that saves lives	It is a pity that in this highly appreciated piece, there is no mention of the doctor who began it. Dr Will Mapham graduated from the University of Cape Town. He did his post-intern year as what we call a community service doctor at Madwaleni Hospital in rural Transkei, part of the Eastern Cape. By his enthusiasm and example he renewed the life of the hospital and recruited badly needed doctors and other professionals, many also graduates of UCT. He left Madwaleni in good hands, but it was from his experience there that the seed and dynamic of Soul City grew. This is my own somewhat hasty account which I want to put on record because of my admiration, especially as a retired rural doctor myself, for him and others of the present generation of young South African doctors. Ronald Ingle Durban inglerf@iafrica.com Competing interests: None declared