Doha - After successfully performing 22 open-heart surgical procedures in Yemen, a Qatari medical team is back in Doha.
The team, comprising cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and supporting staff from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), were on a nine-day charity trip to Yemen to offer Qatar's medical expertise to that country's medical fraternity.
The Qatari team visited the Cardiac Centre at Althawrah Hosptial Complex, Sanaa, and performed 22 open-heart surgical procedures, including adult and paediatric cases. Several coronary catheterisation and stenting of coronary lesions were also performed.
The team also worked together with their Yemeni counterparts in the diagnostic and the operative procedures, said team leader Dr Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, Adult Cardiac Surgeon, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), here yesterday.
The charitable trip was organised by the Gulf Heart Association. The association raised the required funds for the trip from Qatari philanthropists and institutional sources, Abdulaziz said.
"Of the total surgeries conducted by the Qatari medical team, 14 were paediatric cases. Sixty per cent of them were different kinds of `Blue Babies'. There is a high incidence of rheumatic fever which affects children secondary to sore throats and tonsilitis. Rheumatic fever tends to affect the heart valves, in some cases resulting in varying degree of heart valve lesions. During the trip we encountered a large number of patients with valve problems, who needed urgent surgery," he said.
The doctor said there were three main factors which made the charitable trip a success. "To begin with, the idea was floated by the Gulf Heart Association. An ordinary Qatari family donated QR200,000 for the trip. Finally, HMC offered its expertise," he added.
The purpose of the visit was to provide the much-needed speciality cardiac care to Yemen and bolster relationships between various Gulf countries. With a 20m population, Yemen is rich in natural resources. Though the rate of cardiac diseases is very high, the country has a lone cardiac centre.
Yemen is again under-developed in terms of trained personnel in the medical field, he said.
Replying to a query, Dr Al Khulaifi said discussions were on regarding HMC giving training to Yemeni medical staff.
Dr Akhlaq Bhat, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon (HMC), Abdullah Al Naami, Adult Cardiologist, Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, Dr Mohammed Dilawer, Paediatric Cardiologist (HMC), Ibtesam Al Mohry, Cardiac Nurse, HMC and Dr Jiju John, Paediatric Anaesthetist (HMC) were among others who joined the charitable trip.
© The Peninsula 2007
