MOI specialists take on comprehensive surgery course

Dar es Salaam. Over 100 orthopaedic surgeons from 12 Sub- Saharan African countries including Tanzania have met in Dar es Salaam to participate the 6th Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) Trauma Course.

The five-day course has been organised by MOI in collaboration with the Orthopaedic Trauma Institute (OTI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology.

Speaking to reporters during the launch of the programme, MOI senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Billy Haonga, clarified that the course was focusing on sharpening the capacity of the surgeons in performing complex orthopaedic operations.

Dr Haonga who is also the head of Orthopaedic and Trauma in the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas) further revealed that the trainees would also have the opportunity to learn how to conduct solution- based research work.

"The course will run through to June 23. Apart from MOI surgeons, the programme has attracted participants from regional hospitals countrywide," he said.

Other participants will come from Sub Saharan African countries including Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, Malawi - to mention a few - confirmed Dr Haonga when he addressed a press conference on Wednesday, June 20.

Speaking at the same occasion, MOI medical director, Dr Samwel Swai, called on the Tanzania's traffic police department to enforce road safety regulations with a view to reducing the number of road accidents in the country.

He further revealed that the Institute was currently receiving at least 10 patients per day injured during road accidents.

"The number of patients that we receive due to road accidents has dropped from 20 to 10 people per day," he said.

Speaking to The Citizen at the same occasion, MOI orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Emmanuel Mtui, who was one of the participants expressed his optimism that the course would help reduce the number of patients who were being sent abroad for specialised treatment.

"This training will help us to learn how to deal with the complex surgeries hence a number of patients who are currently sent abroad for advanced treatment will be reduced," he said.

Dr Mtui who is also a Masters degree student in orthopaedic and Traumatology further expounded that it was high time for local specialists to share experiences and skills with counterparts on how to intervene in complex cases.