JKCI treats over 800 heart patients in Comoros

MORONI: MORE than 800 patients with various heart problems have been treated by specialists from the Jakaya Kikwete Cardic Institute (JKCI) at a camp of specialist doctors from Tanzania that recently concluded on the Island of Anjouan in Comoros.

Speaking about the patients treated, a specialist cardiologist from JKCI, Salehe Mwinchete, said that out of the 852 patients they saw, 623 were adults and 229 were children.

Dr. Salehe said that they have seen patients with problems of blockage of blood vessels in the heart, enlarged heart, valve problems, heart failure, heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart defects in children.

He said that high blood pressure is a serious problem compared to other and many people who saw them were not aware that they had the problem.

“Out of the 852 patients we saw, 92 patients needed to undergo minor and major heart surgery and others needed urgent surgery to save their lives; we have referred all of them to be treated at our institution”.

Added “There are patients who are being treated at our institution after hearing that we are in Anjouan, they come and we have done heart tests, seen their progress, and for others we have changed their medications”, said Dr. Salehe.

Dr. Salehe said the camp has been a great success as there are patients who have been diagnosed with heart problems and cannot afford to go to Tanzania for treatment; all of them have been treated and given medications that were provided free of charge by specialists from the Tanzania Drug Store (MSD).

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“We have also built the capacity of our fellow specialists at Hombo Hospital so that they know how to treat patients with serious heart problems such as heart failure. We have instructed them on how to treat these patients and good medicines to give them that will help save their lives”, said Dr. Salehe.

And a specialist in pediatric cardiology from JKCI, Nuru Letara, said that out of the 229 children he saw, 10 were found to have problems that required surgery and thus referred them to JKCI for treatment.

Dr. Nuru said that the children had valve problems and holes in the heart that needed surgery to recover. He has given them medicines while their parents are making good financial arrangements to go for surgery at JKCI.

“ I have seen children who needed medical care. Pomoni Hospital, which I also went to provided services, did not have a pediatrician. There are children I have seen who do not have heart problems. I have found them with other problems such as hernias, I have treated them and given them medication”, said Dr. Nuru.

Pediatric cardiologist from Hombo Hospital, Daniel Oiridi, said the presence of the medical camp has been very beneficial to him and other doctors at the hospital as it has built more capacity in providing cardiac care services.

“Through this camp, I have learned various techniques to perform better heart tests, especially for adults, as well as how to care for patients with serious heart problems. This collaboration with JKCI specialists has broadened our understanding and improved the services we provide here in Hombo,” said Dr. Oiridi.