admin
Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
A TEAM of doctors from the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA) carried out life saving operations on 30 patients at Masvingo General Hospital free of charge last week.
The team that included three surgeons and four anaesthetists conducted hernia and hydrocele operations.
A hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid in the front and sides of the testes. Hernia occurs when an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue that holds it in place.
ZIMA Masvingo branch president Dr Kudzai Masimire said the exercise was part of the organisation’s social responsibility programme.
He said the operations, which normally cost between $400 and $600, were successful.
Dr Masimire said children who underwent operations are already feeding well without problems and were discharged from the hospital save for a few who need to receive four injections for two days.
“We had a team of doctors from across Zimbabwe under the ZIMA banner who visited Masvingo General Hospital on Friday to carry out hernia and hydrocele repairs on 30 patients. We received a team of seven specialist doctors; four surgeons and three anaesthetists who operated on 30 patients for free,” said Dr Masimire.
He said the team worked with theatre and ward nursing staff who also offered their services without charge.
“We had eight female adults who had hernia with one who had trauma on the right side of her face getting operated for free. Six female adults had piles while 6 male adults wanted guidance on hernia. We had 12 children with hydrocele and hernia who also benefited from the surgical procedures,” he said
“We’re grateful to the staff at Masvingo General Hospital who offered their services for free for the whole day without expecting any reward. We’re used to going out in the rural areas conducting surgical operations in the community but this year, we decided to visit Masvingo General Hospital to assist patients,” he added.
The team was led by ZIMA national president Dr Agnes Mawomva.
Dr Masimire said a similar exercise was carried out last year in December at Nemamwa Growth Point in Masvingo rural area where 115 patients benefited.
derick.khumalo