KATAVI: MEDICAL experts based in Chicago, United States of America have successfully performed surgery to a child born with excessive fluid in head (hydrocephalus) and open backs (spina bifida).
Also, the team that consists of 18 specialised medics carried out a surgery to a child with trauma on brain and an adult victim who suffered spinal cord injury following a bodaboda accident.
The specialised medics are in the country for a seven-day special free medical camp at Tanganyika District, Katavi Region, to provide health screening and treatment to the surrounding communities and beyond.
Updating journalists on Wednesday Tanganyika District Medical Officer in charge, Dr Allex Mrema said on Monday that the team of specialised medics performed three surgeries to three patients, two of them are children.
“All three surgeries were successfully done and the patients conditions are described to be stable” added the DMO.
Also, the medical specialists will undergo surgeries to women with illness related to oncology and gynecology.
Equally, the Chicago based medical specialists will undergo surgeries on kidney, ear, nose and throat (ENT) as well as conduct breast cancer screening.
Also, treatment will be provided to children born with excessive fluid in heads (hydrocephalus) and open backs (spina bifida). He said that the camp has experienced a big turn up on the first day saying more than 100 people were attended.
“The turn up is three times as usually we were attending between 30 and 40 patients per day but since the commencement of the camp, we are attending patients between 70 and 80 per day,” added Dr Mrema.
He appealed to people to continue to turn in large number to seize this noble and golden opportunity also all parents with children born with unusually large heads (Hydrocephalus) and open backs to utilise the opportunity by bringing their children for treatment. The surgeries will be offered free of charge,” he said.
According to him hydrocephalus, also called water on the brain, can permanently damage the brain, causing problems with physical and mental development. If untreated, it is usually fatal.
However, with treatment, many people lead normal lives with few limitations.
“Parents with children born with unusual large heads (Hydrocephalus) and open backs should avoid hiding them but instead take them to nearby health facilities for early treatment,” she said.
The head of Chicago based specialised medics Professor Eddie Chan said the team will perform craniacial surgery, otorynolaryngogy surgery as well as general surgeries.
On his part Tanganyika District Council Executive Director (DED) Mr Shaaban Juma congratulated the management of the Institute of the Norbert and Friends Missions (NFM- BRIGHT) based in Arusha for its good decision to move specialists’ services closer to people by bringing in expert doctors to provide specialised services to citizens of Tanganyika District and beyond.
He further said that previously people were compelled to trek long distance to seek the services to Mbeya Zone Referral Hospital, Benjamin Medical Hospital in Dodoma, KMC in Mwanza and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam.
