Harare (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with the World Health Organization Zimbabwe are providing free surgery to repair hernia in children at the Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital (formerly Mutare General Hospital).
A hernia occurs when a section of the intestine protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal muscles. A soft bulge is seen underneath the skin where the hernia has occurred.
In children, hernia occurs around the belly button (navel), the place where the umbilical cord was attached to the mother before birth, or in the groin area.
The initiative by the Ministry of Health and Child Care comes at a time children who have hernia have been failing to get surgery to repair it, leading to death as if left untreated, it can cause the patients organs or tissue to become infected, blocked, or strangled.
Main objectives of the initiative include reducing the mortality rate of paediatric hernia in children between 2-12 years old and reducing the financial burden of parents and guardians who cannot afford private medical care.
Other objectives include educating the public on the importance of surgical repairs for hernia and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
EW In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care advised the public to bring their stamped clinical records.
“@MoHCCZim in partnership with @WHO_Zimbabwe has scheduled a Free Surgical Camp for Paediatric Hernia Repairs in children between 2-12 years at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare from today, 20 to 24 March 2023. Please bring your government stamped clinical records and any other medical records.” the Ministry said.
The Free Surgical Camp is a great initiative, provides necessary assistance to parents and children who suffer from Paediatric Hernia, and ensures that such children get the appropriate medical care they need in order to live healthy lives.
New Ziana.
