ATOMED supports 23rd deployment of the Sumbawanga project in Tanzania

From November 2nd to November 17th, 2019, 18 highly experienced team members from Interplast Germany were once again in Sumbawanga at the Dr. Atiman Memorial Hospital. The surgical focus of the mission was severe burn contractures and fractures. The team also provided support in obstetrics, physiotherapy, and orthopedic technology.

Patient registration was carried out by the Dr. Atiman Memorial Hospital prior to the mission. Following a radio announcement and announcement of the mission,
a total of 450 patients signed up. Upon arrival on site, 166 registered patients were examined. The findings were generally very serious. Five specialists and nurses participated in the field of plastic surgery. The traumatology and accident surgery area was covered by five specialists, nurses, and our X-ray technician Enrico Maes. A total of 96 procedures were performed on 70 patients with minimal complications. The operations resulted in 178 dressing changes, 70 X-ray examinations, and 329 laboratory tests. In the field of anesthesia, two employees in Mbeya were able to receive professional training during a three-month on-site course with the support of Interplast Germany e.V. Neonatal anesthesia was also a focus of the training. During the mission, the X-ray nurses received professional training from Enrico Maes. At the same time, the X-ray equipment was upgraded to the latest standards. The patients received intensive physiotherapy follow-up treatment. This enabled 179 postoperative treatment appointments to be scheduled on the wards, and 182 outpatient appointments
were scheduled and carried out. Home visits to paraplegic patients in Sumbawanga were added to the range of services. Parallel bars and wall bars were added to the physiotherapy area in advance. Physiotherapists continued their on-site training. Between missions, weekly training sessions were held via video conference. This area has become very popular in the Rukwa region. During past missions, patients repeatedly had to undergo leg amputations after serious injuries. This led to the idea of ​​helping these patients with a prosthesis to improve their quality of life. For the first time, the Orthopedic Technology department handed over 24 lower leg and upper leg prostheses to patients, for whom a plaster cast was made in April. The prostheses were manufactured by derstamos & braun Prothesenwerk GmbH in Germany. Two hospital employees were trained in orthopedic technology. Basic equipment, including a burr, was provided for the operation of an orthopedic workshop. All patients were overjoyed and received physiotherapy support immediately after the fitting. In the area of ​​obstetrics, two midwives who traveled with the team were able to attend numerous natural births, six cesarean sections, and two twin births, prepare pregnant women for childbirth, and intensify postpartum care and continuing education on-site. A medical student was responsible for all patient documentation.

The mission was organized by Dr. Salum Jipemba and Marcus Strotkötter. The collaboration with the hospital management was excellent. Prior to the mission, there was a daily exchange of information about patients, organization, and permits with Dr. Salum Jipemba and Mother Superior Sr. Yasinta. The collaboration with the hospital staff was particularly good. All deployed personnel went far beyond the call of duty. The team once again cared for 35 patients who came from far away (up to 650 km) and who had no money for the return journey or for medication. In 2019, many people again supported Interplast Germany e.V. not only financially but also with materials, including ATOMED X-Ray.