Patients who were diagnosed with heart problems and recommended for further treatment outside the country face a race against time as most of their conditions need urgent surgeries.

This follows a five-day cardiology camp conducted by four Tanzanian cardiologists in partnership with local specialists at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre where 537 patients were diagnosed with heart problems of which 201, need further treatment abroad.

Some of the patients queue to get screened
during the cardiology camp in Blantyre

In an interview from Tanzania on Tuesday, leader of the four-member cardiologists from Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania Dr Angela Muhozya said all the 201 patients recommended for referrals outside Malawi need urgent treatment.

She said: “We had about 10 children who need to be operated in between one to three months after we have seen them because their condition is timely limited.

“And for adults that we have seen, almost all of them need to be treated as soon as possible. So there is no one I can say this one should come first.”

Muhozya said about five percent of the 537 patients that were diagnosed with heart problems were in the stage that cannot be cured.

Asked when the 201 heart disease patients will be referred outside the country for treatment, Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Samson Mndolo could not comment on the matter, saying he was yet to get a report on the cardiology camp from QECH.

In a separate interview, QECH director Kelvin Mponda said the facility is still compiling a comprehensive report which will be submitted to the Ministry of Health this week for further direction.

He said a preliminary analysis of the cardiology camp shows that 75 percent (about 151) of the 201 patients who need international referrals can be treated at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania and that the remaining 25 percent (about 50) need to be treated in India.

“Most of these referrals need surgery and most of them can be done in Tanzania where services are cheaper than in India.

“So we are suggesting that Tanzania be an alternative outset where we should be referring our patients.  This will be a win-win situation as some of our doctors will be accompanying patients to acquire knowledge on heart problems treatment,” said Mponda.

During the cardiology camp which started on May 8 and ended on 12, the cardiologists discovered that heart diseases are a big problem in the country that needs urgent attention.

Muhozya said the most prevalent condition, rheumatic heart disease, can be detected and treated with periodic check-ups as it mostly kicks in when one is young.

Other common conditions included high blood pressure and decreased flow of blood and oxygen to the heart due to blocked the veins.

QECH consultant cardiologist Dr. David McCarty is on record as having said urbanisation is worsening heart conditions as most people seldom work manually, exercise or eat healthy food.

McCarty observed that Malawi cannot tackle heart problems single-handedly due to lack of requisite skills and equipment.

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