adminLiberty Dube and Talent Simbi
A TEAM of 19 doctors – including 18 specialists – who arrived in the country on Sunday to offer free medical services to patients in Manicaland Province commenced their mission at Mutare Provincial Hospital on Tuesday but were unable to perform their work fully after Zimra held some equipment and drugs.
By Wednesday morning, more than five patients who were suffering from different ailments, including fibroids had been attended to and operated, while 10 more were expected to be attended to by end of the day. Team leader and past president of Rotary International, Dr Rajeendra Saboo, said the doctors who are in Zimbabwe till May 13 would do dental and gynaecology services as well as orthopaedic surgery.
They were, however, waiting for a medical consignment which was yet to arrive in Mutare and was still with the Zimbabwe Customs.
“We are happy that we have commenced the mission with zeal and pleasure especially at Mutare Provincial Hospital. We wanted to do service beyond borders and we must also realise that humanity is one. We have never been to Zimbabwe, but it was always in our minds and we welcomed the invitation from Rotarians of Zimbabwe.
“We appeal to people with ailments that need attention to come to designated hospitals and get some help. We want to thank the health authorities, Rotarians of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Zimbabwean Government for giving us an opportunity that we can be on service. We are here to share and work together, exchange knowledge and experience. We are concerned with quality service and we will do our best,” said Dr Saboo.
His counterpart, Dr Rajiv Pradhan who is the project advisor and pathologist, said they would perform multi specialty surgeries at Sakubva, Mutare and Nyanga hospitals.
One of the doctors, Dr Manisa Jagtab, a gynaecologist had on Wednesday morning successfully carried out a surgical treatment to a female patient who had fibroids.
A patient, Mr Lovemore Dzinamarira who sustained a fracture on his leg after a motorcycle accident, was on Wednesday successfully operated, thanks to one of the Indian doctors.
“I am fine now and I am happy that this was done professionally and successfully,” he said.
The Rotarians of India have been taking medical missions to African countries which include Rwanda, Swaziland and Malawi since 1998. Over 200 Indian Rotarian doctors have participated in these missions of “Service beyond Borders” and have performed over 60 000 free surgeries.
The doctors were accompanied by eight Rotarian volunteers who will provide them with crucial support system.
All eye procedures will be done at Sakubva District Hospital Eye Unit, while general surgery and dental surgery will be handled in Nyanga. Mutare Provincial Hospital will handle all multi specialist procedures.
Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Patron Mafaune, hailed the mission saying it came at a time when Manicaland was running short of specialists.
Currently Manicaland has only four specialists and there are eight vacant posts, a situation that had led local patients to be transferred to central hospitals in Harare and Chitungwiza to get services.
“We hail this initiative and we would like to thank the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Cde Mandi Chimene among others for making this a success. In March this year, there were 23 major operations excluding caesarian and we were expecting to be carried out by the visiting specialists. This means for the time being patients are not going to travel to Harare to get some services,” said Dr Mafaune.
Of the 500 patients, 200 are eye patients, 200 dental, while 100 patients will have general surgeries done on them.
National Assembly Member for Nyanga as well as Minister of Information Communication, Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira availed food, transport and accommodation for the patients.
Nyanga District Medical Officer, Dr Admore Jokwiro, said they were elated by the visit.
“We are thankful that our people are being helped. There were disadvantaged people who were failing to get treatment because of lack of resources and now they have the chance to be treated. People’s response has been overwhelming,” said Dr Jokwiro.
Online Reporter