SAGES Magazine

EDITORIAL Dear Colleagues, Reading this means the ASSA-SAGES congress has arrived and we are in the ‘Berg! Further happiness is that masks are a thing of the past and restrictions on gatherings lifted. I doubt we will ever return to a pre-Covid ‘normal’, we have a revised reality which has brought it’s own opportunities, and reasons to look forward. A lot has taken place since our last edition, some very distressing and other sorrowful news. The challenges faced in Tygerberg which resulted in the resignation of medical gastroenterologists, soon after the suspension of paediatric gastro-enterologist Dr Tim de Maayer at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, and the recent passing of Dr Stephan Grobler. We have placed SAGES statement and tribute in this edition. On another note, we have planned a more interactive and multi-media version of this journal, which should be launched in the next edition. There will be several changes, all hopefully contributing to a more immersive experience. The first appears in this edition, an Abstract’s corner where abstracts from MMed’s, MSc’s, MPhil’s and PhD may be published. I hope you find this edition interesting, feedback and suggestions are always welcome. Martin Brand Editorial NEWS The South African Gastroenterology Society is shocked and dismayed to hear of the “precautionary suspension” of our Paediatric Gastroenterology colleague, Dr Tim De Maayer. It is well known that Dr De Maayer recently wrote an open letter criticising the DOH in Gauteng for the state of services, or rather lack thereof, at the Rahima Moosa Hospital and this appears to be the evoked response. In 1987 a group of doctors wrote to the then Transvaal Department of Health criticising the state of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The response was identical (SAMJ, 1987. Vol.72 p361). The South African Gastroenterology Society stands in firm solidarity with Dr De Maayer who is being punished for protesting the barriers to quality healthcare for the most vulnerable in our society, the children. We call for his immediate re-instatement; such action is shameful and has no place in a democracy. Saturday 13 August 2022 13:30 – 14:30 Drakensberg Convention Centre The suspension of Dr Tim De Maayer NOTICE of SAGES AGM Professor Gill Watermeyer 1 , Professor Adam Mahomed 2 1 President: SAGES 2 Immediate Past President: SAGES THE SOUTH AFRICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY REVIEW 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 2 | 1