Dr Fredy Rutachunzibwa, the hospital’s lead radiologist and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) expert, said yesterday that introducing the technology is a milestone, as it treats tumours in the cervix, kidney, pancreas, liver, bones, breast; any tumour that can be detected.
The plant, which has just started operating, has the capacity to serve up to 10 patients per day, he said, noting that the patient does not experience severe pain, recovers quickly, does not lose blood and avoids surgical scars.
Four patients have already undergone treatment since the plant was installed, expected to be formally launched soon, he said, explaining that the facility will greatly benefit women as they suffer from tumours that cause fertility challenges.
“Once the tumours are removed, pregnancy comes easily,” he said, while Dr Asser Mchomvu, the hospital’s director general, noted that there are only four such facilities so far in Africa, in hospitals located in South Africa, Nigeria and now Tanzania.
The hospital sent two of its specialists abroad for training, who have already completed their training, thus being tasked with operating the plant, he said, saying it was another stop in modifying, perfecting tumour removal techniques.
“In the past we used to perform surgery by opening the stomach, we moved to the surgical method using holes and now we have progressed further by removing the same tumours without cutting or placing holes,” he said, affirming that this is the highest level of treatment.
The hospital has created a team of experts to run its new HIFU clinic, he added..
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