Aga Khan Hospital,conducts five more weight-loss surgeries

Dar es Salaam. TheAga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam (AKHD) has successfully conducted another round of weight-loss surgeries in collaboration with prominent Pakistani surgeons.

Five surgeries were performed last week after four others were conducted in June this year, according to a statement issued by the hospital on Tuesday.

AKHD is among the pioneer healthcare institutions in Tanzania to provide bariatric surgery starting in July 2023.

The milestone was realised through collaboration with Dr Syed Tanseer Asgher, a distinguished bariatric surgeon, with over 15 years’ expertise in the field and a track record of more than 3,020 successful bariatric procedures.

“In Tanzania, the reported prevalence of overweight and obesity are 34.8 percent and 32.4 percent, respectively. To grapple with the rising prevalence of obesity and its associated health risks, AKHD has launched an obesity screening clinic and introduced this collaboration with an international team of bariatric surgeons from Pakistan,” said Dr Athar Ali, senior consultant surgeon and head of the Department of Surgery at AKHD.

Bariatric surgery encompasses a range of interventions, including gastric bypass, designed to modify the digestive system and facilitate weight loss for individuals.

The specialised minimally invasive procedure is conducted through laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) techniques. It proves especially advantageous for individuals grappling with severe obesity, characterised by excessive body fat – a chronic condition stemming from imbalanced consumption of processed foods and insufficient physical activity. However, making healthy choices is often hindered by broader factors such as low socio-economic status and inequality.

“This partnership programme provides an opportunity for Tanzanians to access advanced medical care in their homeland, which they previously had to travel miles abroad for,” said Dr Blessing Mkenda, general surgeon at AKHD.

Dr Asgher said bariatric surgery can improve the quality of patients’ lives by helping them to achieve substantial weight loss.

“Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern. It increases the risk of many other non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea and certain cancers,” he said.

Dr Sharafat said that bariatric surgery has shown to be a revolutionary game changer in medicine compared to other treatments for obesity.

“Bariatric surgery can help preserve the enhanced metabolism, reduce risk of death, and even cure Type Two diabetes among those with obesity,” he said.

The doctors also participated in enhancing the skills of local Tanzanian surgeons, a crucial element for the long-term sustainability and expansion of the bariatric surgery programme at the AKHD.

“The hospital steadfastly upholds its commitment to supporting government health initiatives aimed at providing quality and affordable treatments in Tanzania,” AKHD said in its statement.