‘Heart surgical intervention helps 1,200’

MAUREEN ODUNGA

UP to 1,200 heart patients will be able to receive treatment per year through surgery as the Radial Artery Approach procedure has been introduced for the first time in the country at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI).

The approach is carried out through an artery or vein of the patients’ wrist to clear out the blockage. JKCI Executive Director, Prof Mohamed Janabi revealed this at the climax of the Cardiac Catheterisation Programme which was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Tanzania, Mr Mohammed Bin Mansour Almalik in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.

“Today marks the fourth day since the heart camp was staged, until this morning we were done with 33 patients…this means that we can operate 100 patients in a month and that makes 1,200 patients in one year,” noted Prof Janabi.

He extended recognition to the International Islamic Relief Organisation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that made it possible for three specialists to come and carry out the surgeries among other things build the capacity for JKCI staff.

Before the method was introduced at the hospital, Prof Janabi said the institute had ventured on femoral approach, whereby an operation is carried through the veins located on the thigh.

“With the former procedure, the patient could be admitted for two to three days after surgery while with the radial approach one could be discharged on the same day,” noted the ED.

Among other things, the ED said the method will cut costs which could be incurred by patients’ travel to India and elsewhere to seek the treatment.

A representative from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children (MCDGC), Dr Dorothy Gwajima, acknowledged the medical assistance accorded by the Islamic Relief Organisation from the Kingdom by bringing the specialists to build the capacity to medical personnel in the country.

“The Government has saved a lot of funds which could have been used to send medical personnel for further studies abroad…we therefore thank the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Dr Gwajima.

She noted that the government’s commitment to support JKCI and other institutions to ensure delivery of medical care in the country is commendable.

According to the Interventional Cardiologist from Saudi Arabia, Dr Ali Al Masood, the camp began on Wednesday and the procedures went on smoothly since everything was made easy by fellow colleagues and the institute’s administration.

“We saw joy on the patients’ faces after successful operations…it’s really encouraging for us to continue with these partnerships. The other specialists include a Cardiovascular Technologist, Mr Bader Alanazi and Hani Alanezi who is a Cardiovascular Nurse.

Mufti Abubakar Zubeir called upon members of the community to seek treatment from the country’s medical facilities assuring them of quality, reliable and different kinds of treatment that could not be obtained in the previous times.

“I can assure you that services offered at our medical facilities have improved even those that could not be accessed before can also be obtained from within the country… we should overcome the perception that quality services can only be acquired abroad,” pointed out Mufti Zubeir.