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MNH moves to strengthen ENT services

MUHIMBILI National Hospital

DAR ES SALAAM: SIX medical doctors and audiology specialists in Tanzania are set to benefit from specialised ear surgery training that is underway at the state-of-the-art teaching laboratory at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

The three-day training will also involve six specialists for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) from Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda. The aim is to enhance the skills of these experts so as to facilitate access to specialised healthcare for the locals.

MNH Director of Surgical Services Dr Rachel Mhavile, said that the 12 specialist doctors will be trained in cutting-edge ear surgery techniques.

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“This training will involve imparting skills on treatment of ear related complications including implantation of hearing devices.”

“These experts will also have the opportunity to learn the implantation of hearing devices for medium ear related complications,” added Dr Mhavile.

“We aim to make these training programs sustainable so that our doctors can treat ear related complications within the country, without patients necessarily having to travel abroad for the services. We are preparing a special program for the year 2024, in which 12 ENT specialists from various regions in Tanzania will participate in the year-long training,” he added

She emphasised that, “We aim to make Tanzania a centre for training and specialised surgery services which can also be accessed by neighbouring countries.”

Dr Aslam Nkyaa, Head of the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Department at Muhimbili, highlighted that due to the modernity of the laboratory, the hospital’s ENT unit will become a center for teaching advanced ear surgeries to experts from various African countries.

“As you can see, we have welcomed specialist doctors from different parts of Africa for the training. This is honour for our Muhimbili Hospital and Tanzania in general …we are very grateful to the MEDEL Institute in Austria for investing in this laboratory,” said Dr Nkyaa.

Dr Nkyaa emphasised that, “during the three-day training session, there will also be surgery for implanting hearing devices for three children at the hospital. These children, who have hearing impairments, will find renewed hope for leading normal lives as they will be able to hear and eventually speak after the surgery.”

The training program will be conducted by a team of experts from both within Tanzania and abroad. Notable experts include Prof Ahmed Mehana from Egypt, Dr Alexander Ulasik from Austria, Dr Shabaan Mawala from Muhimbili, and Dr Fayaz Jaffer, Ali Jaffer, and Dr Rashida Hassuji from Hear Well Audiology Clinic.