How Japanese eye specialists will treat Dar cataract Patients without surgery
What you need to know:
The specialists, working with their Tanzanian counterparts, are expected to treat at least 30 patients at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for two days from today. Announcing the clinic in Dar es Salaam yesterday, an eye specialist at MNH, Dr Neema Daniel, said the exercise would begin today when 15 people would be treated followed by as many patients tomorrow.
Dar es Salaam. Japanese eye specialists will treat cataract patients in Dar es Salaam this week without performing invasive surgery.
The specialists, working with their Tanzanian counterparts, are expected to treat at least 30 patients at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for two days from today. Announcing the clinic in Dar es Salaam yesterday, an eye specialist at MNH, Dr Neema Daniel, said the exercise would begin today when 15 people would be treated followed by as many patients tomorrow.
“This is medical expertise of the highest level where a non-invasive procedure will be performed on patients,” she said.
Dr Neema added that the procedure involves sucking our the affected part of the eye and replacing it with another one through an injection instead of conducting an operation. The procedure involves the use of professional eye equipment known as Pheco machines, which are currently not available in Tanzania.
“We have requested our Japanese counterparts to leave the machines with us after the exercise. However, we will still need to train Tanzanian eye specialists and enable them to use the equipment,” Dr Neema said.
By using a Pheco machine has, specialists can handle one patient in only five minutes, unlike regular surgery which takes about 15 minutes.
The Japanese ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Masaharu Yoshida, praised the partnership between the two countries, adding that Japan would continue to work with Tanzania on health matters.
Cataract is a an eye disease that affects about 80 per cent of people above the age of 45.
