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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in Gweru
In a move aimed at addressing the growing backlog of patients in need of orthopaedic surgeries, Gweru Provincial Hospital this week conducted a surgical camp that saw at least 40 patients being operated on.
The initiative, which started on Monday this week, sought to manage patients suffering from a range of musculoskeletal conditions admitted on the wards who have spent a long time in hospital.
The camp, the first of its kind, is being conducted by local surgeons with the help anaesthesiologists and orthopaedic surgeons from Sally Mugabe Hospital.
Specialist orthopaedics and trauma surgeon at Gweru Provincial Hospital, Dr Brian Paketh, said there were many orthopaedic trauma cases admitted at this hospital as a result of an increase in road traffic accidents and those from artisanal mining activities.
“The issue has been with the stay on the wards before the cases are done in theatre, because most of the trauma that we get actually requires surgical intervention. This has come as a consequence of issues like lack of implants, orthopaedic implants, and lack of skilled manpower to get those cases done on time,” he said.
He said the hospital ordinarily does eight procedures in a week but this was not enough to deal with the cases in the wards.
“We decided that we needed help, and we needed to dedicate most of the resources that were at our disposal, coming mainly from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and we set out this week that we did the trauma week,” said Dr Paketh.
He said the camp had gone a long way in alleviating the number of cases that were admitted as well as reducing the hospital bills.
It also opens up space for other patients in need of similar services.
The surgical camp came as a welcome relief for many patients who had been waiting for months for surgery.
Mrs Kundai Mutimba (53) said she had taken a fall while at her home in Gokwe and sustained a fracture on her left ankle.
“I have been trying to get the operation done since last year but the waiting list was just too long because there was only one surgeon doing all the operations. I am grateful that l finally got the surgery done and l can start healing,” she said.
Mr Samuel Mugedi (77) from Chiwundura expressed his gratitude to the surgeons for providing relief after his injury.
“I was in pain for a long time and l had to come here often to check if my operation had been scheduled. I had almost lost hope but l am happy that the operation has finally been done. And it was free because of my age,” he said.
The successful completion of the camp is expected to pave the way for similar initiatives in the future, bringing much-needed orthopaedic care to a wider population.
Online Reporter