ARUSHA: FOUR Orthopaedic surgeons from US and Canada have operated 20 out of 40 patients with ankle and foot problems at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre Hospital, in Arusha Region.
The surgery was done to nine patients on Tuesday and other 11 patients were operated on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists at the hospital, the President and Founder of the Foundation dubbed STEPS2WALK, Dr Mark Myerson (pictured) said that they examined 40 children and among them they selected 20 children who needed ankle and foot surgery.
He said that most of the children with ankle and foot problems experience legs bent backwards, a situation that made them unable to walk.
He said the doctors have successfully operated all 20 children.
According to Dr Myerson, his foundation works in 19 countries in the world including Tanzania. He said in those countries, they do surgeries to children and adults with ankle and foot problems which they were born with or caused by accident.
He said many children with ankle and foot problems cannot walk, wear shoes and go to school, a situation that affects their future.
“We are here also to provide training to the local orthopaedic surgeons. We are happy to work in Tanzania, there are good people here, our plan is to have a strong long-term relationship with Tanzania, especially with this hospital,” said Dr Myerson.
He also thanked the former Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu for coordinating and successfully bringing their foundation to the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Another Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr Steve Meyer of the STEMM Foundation from America appreciated the cooperation his team enjoys from the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Tanzanians in general.
He said the good cooperation makes their job easier.
“We thank President Samia and the Government of Tanzania for enabling the programme of our STEMM Foundation to provide medical services in this country for 27 years,” said Dr Meyer.
The Executive Director of Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, Dr Goodwill Kivuyo said the hospital has organised a three-day camp for the treatment of ankle and foot problems conducted by four Orthopedic Surgeons from USA and Canada through the STEPS2WALK Foundation.
On his part, the Coordinator of the Programme, Mr Nyalandu said the doctors are of a great help to the children born with ankle and foot or arm deformities by doing them operation to straighten their feet or arms.
“It is a great honor, this is a series of work done by President Samia last year where there were specialist doctors from the United States of America, so I thank President Samia and the Ministry of Health for making this happen,” said Nyalandu.
