32 heart disease patients treated
About 32 patients with various heart conditions have been treated locally during two open heart surgery camps at Blantyre Adventist Hospital (BAH) in Blantyre between November 2023 and April 2024.
The patients are among 201 recommended by a cardiology camp conducted by four Tanzanian cardiologists in partnership with local specialists at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in May last year.
The two open heart surgery camps were conducted with support from Heart for Mission International (H4MI) and Adventist Health International (AHI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
In a written response, one of AHI founding board members Dr. Tiffany Priester, a cardiologist at Loma Linda VA Health System in California, United States said of the 32 treated patients, 19 underwent open heart surgery, 11 pacemakers for heart block while two were treated with valvuloplasty, a treatment to repair a heart valve that has a narrowed opening.
Said Priester: “The country has never been able to support advanced cardiac care before. And the combination of growth in the BAH ICU [intensive care unit] and the training of a cardiothoracuc surgeon who had previously operated at Malamulo Hospital for years combined with the new H4MI NGO to bring two open heart surgery camps in 12 months is fantastic!”
On his part, H4MI chief executive officer Jason Blanchard expressed optimism that although Malawi does not have a full-time heart centre, his organisation will continue working with the Ministry of Health and BAH to establish such a place.
“This is no small task, but with local business support, education and government support, we will, together make it a reality,” he said.
QECH head of Internal Medicine department Dr. Chimota Phiri, who was part of the open heart surgery team, expressed excitement for the successful operations.
He observed that some of the patients who have benefited from the camp could not raise funds for their international treatment.
