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Frequent pregnancies, heavy chores fuel spinal complications in women, KCMC surgeon says
What you need to know:
- According to senior orthopaedic and spine surgeon at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC, the hospital receives an average of 30 patients daily with spinal problems, translating to over 4,500 cases annually
Moshi. Women are among the most affected by spinal disorders in Tanzania, with medical experts attributing this to frequent pregnancies, strenuous domestic work, and excessive weight gain.
This was revealed by senior orthopaedic and spine surgeon at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Dr Honest Massawe where more than 200 spinal surgeries are conducted each year.
He made the remarks during the launch of a five-day specialist medical camp being held at KCMC in collaboration with Indian neurosurgeons.
According to Dr Massawe, the hospital receives an average of 30 patients daily with spinal problems, translating to over 4,500 cases annually.
“Most of the spinal cases we treat involve brain and spinal tumours, slipped discs, dislocated vertebrae, fractures, crushed hips, and damaged knees,” he said.
He noted that women bear the brunt of these complications due to the nature of domestic tasks, which often require prolonged bending, alongside factors such as carrying twins, large babies, and consecutive pregnancies.
“There is also the issue of excessive weight, which adds pressure to the spine. All these factors increase the risk of back problems, especially for women,” he explained.
Dr Massawe also expressed concern about the rising number of non-communicable diseases affecting both the young and the elderly, calling for increased awareness and early diagnosis.
The specialist camp aims to attend to more than 500 patients suffering from spine, brain, and nerve-related conditions.
Executive director of Tanlink Medical Tourism Agency, Dr Fyumagwa Hassan, said the initiative was designed to reduce the financial burden of seeking specialist care abroad.
“By bringing these services closer to home, we are ensuring that Tanzanians receive affordable and accessible expert treatment,” he said.
A leading orthopaedic and spine surgeon from India, Dr Abdul Azeem, said the visiting team would work closely with KCMC doctors to provide surgical care and build local capacity.
“Our target during this camp is to operate on at least 20 patients in need of spinal surgery,” he said.
The camp has already attracted a strong response from patients, and doctors say it underscores the need for continued collaboration between local and international medical teams to address critical healthcare gaps in Tanzania.
