Following on from the TSA conference, Mugisha was on a tight schedule. As MAT president, he was leading the Medical Association of Tanzania Annual Conference the following week, so had to travel onwards. Our best wishes for the success of that.
Mark meanwhile headed to Bombo Regional Referral Hospital in Tanga to meet with Specialist General Surgeon Dr Rashidi, the Surgical Head of Department (who was also on the organising committee for the excellent TSA Annual Conference). This scoping visit was incredibly positive, and we agreed to return to induct them as a centre in the AMHSI programme in due course. We will also hopefully be able to support them with the development of their proposed laparoscopic programme.
It was then on to Muheza, where things all began for SWIFTSS (to read more about that click here). As our original centre for the mesh hernia programme, it now has a series of 345 repairs spanning more than 5 years. With excellent data supporting the high quality of this service, we are in the process of facilitating another follow up exercise – to our knowledge it is the only such programme in a LMIC to have such long-term high quality data and we will hopefully publish something in due course. A massive pat on the back goes to Dr Boniface, Kibula and Kibaja (now retired) for all their hard work and commitment. It is such a privilege to work with you all.
The original autoclave used for the mesh sterilisation there had become very tired. It had been found in a shipping container leftover from a historical, American, malaria research programme. Mark was able to take out a replacement on this visit, ensuring that the service can continue.
It was then on to Korogwe, to visit Dr Siwiti at the new Majengo Health Centre, as well as review the situation in the Magunga Town Hospital (the two are closely linked). You may recall that Magunga Town Hospital has extensive mesh hernia experience (probably the most in Tanzania), having had a relationship with Hernia International for over a decade. They were enrolled into the AMHSI programme to complement that relationship. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of change in circumstance and personnel over the last 12 months. This has led to the dissolution of mesh hernia surgery services there. We explored this with the Surgical Department, the Hospital Medical Officer in Charge, together with the Town District Medical Officer. The discussion was very productive and a very positive way forwards was agreed. We hope to help quickly re-establish a mesh hernia service at Magunga as well as begin a new one at Majengo.
Mark then went to visit Sr Temba in the foothills of the Usumbara Mountains. She has retired from government work, but continues to keep herself very busy providing specialist surgical care at the various health facilities her convent oversees. Despite the limited resources, it is truly remarkable what they provide for these rural communities. The very high standard of care is a testament to their compassion and innovative determination.
We were very pleased to formally induct St Joseph’s Health Centre into the AMHSI programme. The team were delighted to take charge of one of our autoclaves, as well as various other items we had brought for them. We were incredibly well looked after and enjoyed our time there immensely. It is both a privilege and humbling to work collaboratively with this remarkable team.