RUKWA: A TOTAL of 390 people in Rukwa Region have undergone orthopedic and urology treatment and surgeries.
That was made possible following a team of specialist doctors from Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, who conducted a five -day camp at Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital grounds to provide health checkups and treatment to members of the surrounding communities.
The five – day camp meant for moving the services closer to the people, especially in treating as well as conducting Orthopedic and Urology Surgeries.
The medical camp lasted five days from February 5th this year. The specialist doctor, who is urologist from Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital Dr John Bigabada said people turned up in big numbers for the health service. He said more than 400 people reported to the camp for specialised medical consultation and surgeries.
He said due to time limit and absence of sufficient specialist doctors, about 392 people were treated, of whom 269 were diagnosed and treated with orthopedic issues.
“About 15 people, who were diagnosed with orthopedic emergency cases, underwent surgeries” explained the expert.
He further explained that about 111 people were diagnosed and treated with urology of whom five patients underwent surgeries.
He said despite the government efforts in strengthening and improving health services in the region the specialised health services have become a big challenge due to absence of a sufficient number of specialist doctors in the region.
He went ahead to say that “We discovered that there were a lot of people who were in need of our services but the time was short to attend to all of them,” added Dr Bigabada.
Equally, he said the camp is in response to government directives which require national and referral hospitals to build capacity to other health workers to improve health service provision.
On his part, the General Surgeon at Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital Dr Joackim Kisaka said the team of specialist medics from Mbeya Zonal Referral facility comprised two orthopedic specialist doctors, one urology specialist medic and three anesthesiologists who collaborated in carrying out tasks with medical doctors from Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital in Sumbawanga Town.
“I congratulate the leadership of Mbeya Zonal referral facility for its noble decision to move specialist services closer to the people of the region by bringing in expert doctors to provide services at the Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital. The government’s goal is to ensure that people have access to reliable and comprehensive quality services,” Dr Kisaka said.
On her part, acting Head of Communication Unit at Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital Ms Zenath Mohamed told the ‘Daily News’ over the phone interview yesterday that the camp helped to share experience among health workers in order to improve the provision of health services in the region.
“We are very concerned about the health of the people, this is the reason why we organised the camp to ensure provision of comprehensive and reliable quality services at our regional referral hospital,” she said.
Across section of citizens interviewed separately by this newspaper stressed that the camp should be conducted regularly to enable more people in the precinct to have access to the specialised services.
