After plummeting to dangerously low depths in 2011, Estevan's roster of doctors is continuing its steady climb back.
It was announced Monday that a new physician has begun practising in the city. Dr. Msikazi Langeni recently moved to Estevan from South Africa and she will be working out of the Estevan Medical Group clinic on Nicholson Road.
Langeni said she chose Estevan after a previous visit which included a meeting with a number of local officials who made her feel welcome in the community.
"I feel like I am welcomed and needed here," said Langeni, who is a general practitioner. "I am from South Africa and my reference of Canada is that a lot of South African doctors actually settle here, so I thought let me actually come and give it a try. So far I am definitely loving it."
Greg Hoffort, the executive director of the St. Joseph's Hospital, said they are excited to add a new doctor and credited the efforts of the hospital, Sun Country Health Region and South East Health Committee for helping bring Langeni to Estevan.
"She's another much needed general practitioner and in addition we have heard a lot from the community that it would be nice to have another doctor who is a female so that is an added benefit," he said. "She seems to be fitting right in with the medical staff so we couldn't be happier."
The addition of Langeni gives Estevan 11 physicians in all and eight general practitioners. Hoffort said he would like to see around 12 to 13 full-time general practitioners.
"We are still probably a couple away from where we would like to be real comfortable but having said that we don't have to look back very far to when we had three or four doctors in town. We will keep at it until we get to the numbers we need to be at and then focus on retention as much as recruitment."
Hoffort said they have been in contact with a couple of doctors about coming to Estevan but added those discussions are preliminary.
"There's nothing to report as of yet, but we keep our feelers out and we keep in contact with the ones that we have established relationships with and we'll see where that takes us."
