`Imported surgeons could cut by 80 per cent...
By Rosemary Mirondo, Ifakara
It has been revealed that Tanzania is the largest exporter of surgery patients for overseas treatment in sub-Saharan Africa due to lack of surgeons and facilities needed to conduct surgery in the country.
This was said by president of the Tanzania Surgical Association, Dr Petronila Ngiloi, during an official opening of the Second Congress of the International Federation of Rural surgeons held at St Francis Hospital, Ifakara on Thursday.
Dr Ngiloi said that 95 per cent of patients went overseas for surgery, while 80 per cent could otherwise be treated locally if the country were to substitute the export of patients with importation of surgeons.
`It is cheaper and less risky for a surgeon to travel to follow a patient than a patient to follow a surgeon and it also strengthens the local capacity,` said Dr Ngiloi.
She said that the association`s target was to have at least one surgeon in each regional hospital.
She added that for 13 years, her association had been striving to promote the art of surgery and inspiring young doctors to take up the trade as their specialty.
Dr Ngiloi said that the number of surgeons in Tanzania was less than 100 for a population of more than 35 million people, leaving the bulk of surgeries to be conducted by medical officers or Assistant Medical Officers.
Elaborating, she said that there were only four pediatric surgeons for the whole country, three neurosurgeons and only two thoracic surgeons who however, did not have the necessary equipment to fully utilise their skills.
She said under such circumstances, patients who needed surgery services could take several months or even years before getting one.
She called on the government to train surgeons in various super-specialties by setting up a programme in collaboration with overseas colleagues.
She added that if one surgeon of a certain special skill was invited during the setting of surgical camps, Tanzania could gain by having more patients operated and it would help capacity building locally so that in a few years there would be non or very few overseas referrals patients.
She also urged the government to improve operating theatres and to recognise the contribution of the private sector saying that 70 per cent of health services in Dar es Salaam were provided by private hospitals.
The Vice President, Ali Mohammed Shein who graced the meeting, commended surgeons who work in rural areas.
He said the burden posed by surgical problems in rural areas especially in developing world was working on constrained budgets leading to inadequate health financial allocations, crisis of human resources and poor infrastructure and illiteracy.
He added that the government would take seriously the importance of developing and promoting rural surgery.
SOURCE: Guardian
Credit from http://www.topix.net,
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น