JKCI and AOHI to conduct 25 heart surgeries to save 300m/-
Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in partnership with Australian’s Open Heart International (AOHI) will conduct 25 heart surgeries, saving over 300m/- that could have been spent in undertaking the operations abroad.
Speaking to ‘Sunday News’ over the phone, JKCI Cardiologist, Dr Tulizo Sanga, said the seven-day medical camp aims also to help Tanzania heart specialists to learn from their fellows on new treatments to improve their services. “The team has already arrived and we are continuing with special screening to patients before we start operations next week,” said Dr Sanga.
He explained that the operations would have cost over 400m/- if the patients were referred to India since each one could have paid 25m/- but at JKCI the cost per patient is 8m/-. The state-of-art cardiac institute in East and Central Africa is determined to save lives of people in the most affordable costs not only for Tanzanians but also other people from different parts of Africa.
Dr Sanga said people must do away with ideology that African hospitals cannot offer good services. He added that there were African doctors who were highly respected abroad. “What you will find at JKCI is what you will find when you go to India or in any other country abroad for heart treatments.
We must be proud of the service provided in our local hospitals,” he advised. According to him, doctors in the institute have been receiving capacity building trainings from both local and international specialists.
“JKCI has been collaborating with various international institutions to improve services and build capacity to its health personnel to reduce the number of people seeking the services abroad,” he noted.
The institute Director of Surgical Services, Dr Bashir Nyangasa reminded the general public to continue donating blood to facilitate operations and medical camps conducted by the institute.
He, however, reminded people to have the culture of frequently going for health examination, including heart diseases check-ups and considering healthy eating to reduce a number of deaths caused by heart disease.