Historic medical victory at UBH

IN another historic medical feat, which is evidence of the country’s medical capabilities that have undergone transformation under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, a team of doctors at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) successfully performed a ground-breaking four-hour life-saving surgery of removing a metal bar lodged in an accident victim’s abdomen, chest and back.

The metal bar reportedly came off a trailer, went through the driver’s door and stabbed the victim on the abdomen through to the back, leaving him trapped in the car, only to be rescued after the Beitbridge Fire Brigade was called in to cut the metal bar.

The successful operation solidifies UBH’s position among the leading institutions in cutting-edge surgery.

This comes after another complex surgery in October last year, where doctors at the hospital, working with their colleagues from Mpilo Central Hospital, managed to save the life of an artisanal miner from Gwanda district.

The miner had been a victim of a gruesome attack, with a spear thrust through his mouth lodged in his neck.

The hospital also managed to help a nineyear-old girl give birth last year. Across town, last year, doctors at Mpilo Central Hospital successfully saved the life of an artisanal miner from Bubi district, Matabeleland North province, who had a spear lodged in his skull.

In the latest surgery, the provincial medical director for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Dr Maphios Siamuchembu, was also part of the doctors who carried out the procedure, where the victim’s large intestines, back muscles, skin, diaphragm and kidney were damaged “quite badly”.

The liver was also reportedly injured to some extent, “but it was not too bad for his survival”.

UBH acting clinical director Dr Harrison Rambanapasi said the complicated procedure at the hospital set another precedent in the country’s medical history. ◆ Read more on: www.sundaymail.co.zw