Kitaifa
Moi starts fixing amputees with myoelectric upper limb
Dodoma. The Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (Moi) said it has started fixing amputees with myoelectric upper limb prostheses in a major medical stride by the institution.
A myoelectric-controlled prosthesis is an externally powered artificial limb that you control with the electrical signals generated naturally.
Five amputees have so far been fixed with artificial upper limbs for Sh15 million each.
According to Moi executive director Prof. Abel Makubi, it costs between Sh30 million and Sh60 million to undergo a similar procedure abroad.
Prof. Makubi revealed this yesterday when briefing journalists on the performance of the institution and plans for the 2023/2024 financial year.
He said the electric arm can perform some activities that an incapacitated person can’t.
“He can even help himself to eat, do other things, or walk using a system that is programmed using an electric signal generated naturally. Those we fixed with the arm have testified that it has helped them to do things they believed they would not be able to perform again,” he said.
He noted that the limbs have enabled patients who were treated to do between 60 to 70 percent of what they had failed to do.
Moi has started offering the service after sending experts to Germany to learn the technology. The newly trained experts will continue to provide such treatments to citizens.
Professor Makubi said in the financial year 2023/24, the Government has allocated Sh55.9 billion for improving treatment and operational activities.
He said Moi plans to improve the quality of all services to meet international standards and expectations of the people in order to attract medical tourism.
He advised citizens with orthopaedic challenges to go directly to the hospital instead of going around other hospitals in Muhimbili and thus delaying treatment.