150 turn up on first day of cardiology camp

 About 150 people with heart-related conditions turned up for a cardiology camp by 1.30pm on the first day at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre.

The camp is being championed by four cardiologists from Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania who are working with their Malawian counterparts during the five-day free cardiology camp scheduled to end this Friday.

QECH head of internal medicine Chimota Phiri, who is leading the local specialists, said in an interview the four cardiologists from Tanzania were expected to be meeting between 80 and 100 people a day.

But as at 1:30pm yesterday, about 150 people from across the country were already at QECH adult section, seeking medical attention.

In the children’s section, there were about 60 children seeking assistance.

Phiri attributed the high turnout to the publicity of the camp in both mainstream and social media.

He said the camps were planned by Tanzania cardiologists and Malawi internal medicine team to screen patients who can benefit from surgical procedure at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania.

Phiri said: “We anticipated that we will see a lot of people because the idea was to cast the net wide and screen as many as possible.

“Their [Tanzania cardiologists] interest is the regional integration, helping neighbours to help their patients and also to help to build capacity. The more we interact with our Tanzanian counterparts, the more upcoming doctors will be willing to do cardiology because we learn from one another.”

One of the patients Rose Magombo, who travelled from Area 25 in Lilongwe, expressed optimism that she will get the medical attention she has been lacking.

Initially, the camp was scheduled for March 20 to 25 this year, but was postponed due to the impact of Cyclone Freddy.