News / National
Zimbabwe, Egypt teams perform 10 successful heart surgeries at Parirenyatwa
26 Apr 2026 at 12:28hrs |
0 Views
Cardiothoracic surgery teams from Egypt and Zimbabwe have successfully completed a five-day medical mission, performing life-saving open-heart surgeries on 10 children at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The operations, carried out from Monday to Friday, saw two children undergoing surgery each day. Health officials confirmed that all procedures were successful, with patients now recovering.
Head of the cardiothoracic unit, Simukai Machawira, said the outcomes marked a major achievement.
"We managed to operate on 10 patients, and all the surgeries were successful. The patients are now all in the Intensive Care Unit, with more than half already moved to the general ward," he said.
He added that those still in ICU were stable and out of danger, breathing independently with properly functioning hearts.
Beyond the surgeries, Dr Machawira highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, noting that it has significantly reduced the financial and emotional burden on families who would otherwise seek treatment abroad.
"Without surgery, many of these children would face repeated hospital admissions and miss school. The ripple effects are significant for families," he said.
The programme has also boosted local capacity, with Zimbabwean teams performing multiple surgeries per day—far exceeding their usual rate of one operation per week.
"It changes the perspective of the whole team in terms of what we can deliver," he said, adding that plans are underway to establish an independent cardiothoracic ICU to sustain higher surgical volumes.
Egypt's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Maha Seag El-Din, said the collaboration is designed to strengthen Zimbabwe's healthcare system through skills transfer and long-term partnerships.
"These missions are an opportunity for knowledge transfer and support national development efforts," she said.
Leading the Egyptian team, Professor Hesham Shawky emphasised the importance of building a sustainable paediatric cardiac programme.
"Our goal is not just short-term camps, but a lasting system where local teams continue operating between visits," he said.
He noted that paediatric cardiac services remain limited across much of the region and expressed hope that Zimbabwe could emerge as a regional hub for such specialised care.
Parents of the beneficiaries welcomed the programme, saying it spared them costs of up to US$15,000 that would have been required for treatment in countries such as India.
The mission is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe's health sector while expanding access to critical specialised care for children.
The operations, carried out from Monday to Friday, saw two children undergoing surgery each day. Health officials confirmed that all procedures were successful, with patients now recovering.
Head of the cardiothoracic unit, Simukai Machawira, said the outcomes marked a major achievement.
"We managed to operate on 10 patients, and all the surgeries were successful. The patients are now all in the Intensive Care Unit, with more than half already moved to the general ward," he said.
He added that those still in ICU were stable and out of danger, breathing independently with properly functioning hearts.
Beyond the surgeries, Dr Machawira highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, noting that it has significantly reduced the financial and emotional burden on families who would otherwise seek treatment abroad.
"Without surgery, many of these children would face repeated hospital admissions and miss school. The ripple effects are significant for families," he said.
The programme has also boosted local capacity, with Zimbabwean teams performing multiple surgeries per day—far exceeding their usual rate of one operation per week.
"It changes the perspective of the whole team in terms of what we can deliver," he said, adding that plans are underway to establish an independent cardiothoracic ICU to sustain higher surgical volumes.
Egypt's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Maha Seag El-Din, said the collaboration is designed to strengthen Zimbabwe's healthcare system through skills transfer and long-term partnerships.
"These missions are an opportunity for knowledge transfer and support national development efforts," she said.
Leading the Egyptian team, Professor Hesham Shawky emphasised the importance of building a sustainable paediatric cardiac programme.
"Our goal is not just short-term camps, but a lasting system where local teams continue operating between visits," he said.
He noted that paediatric cardiac services remain limited across much of the region and expressed hope that Zimbabwe could emerge as a regional hub for such specialised care.
Parents of the beneficiaries welcomed the programme, saying it spared them costs of up to US$15,000 that would have been required for treatment in countries such as India.
The mission is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe's health sector while expanding access to critical specialised care for children.
Source - Health Times
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
