By Chisomo Phiri
Zomba Central Hospital(ZCH ) chief urologist, Dr. Wanangwa Collins Chisenga,says the shortage of urologists in the country is delaying timely diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections and other urological conditions.
He said this at a urology and general surgery camp, a joint initiative between ZCH, Physicians Across Continents (PCA), and the Islamic Health Association of Malawi (IHAM) that started on Wednesday and aims to address the unmet need for urological care.
Dr. Chisenga explained that urologists treat a wide range of conditions, including urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder cancer, prostate problems, and issues affecting sexual function and fertility.
He noted the camp’s focus on providing free surgery to vulnerable patients.
On his part, PCA consultant surgeon, Dr. Jamal Sadegh Harisha, from the United Kingdom(UK), stressed the curability of many urological diseases through medical intervention, emphasizing the importance of prompt medical attention for persistent or recurrent urinary tract infections.
IHAM executive director, Hajj Daitoni,said the camp aims to perform 150 surgeries, with over 75 already completed.
He said international surgeons from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and India are participating in the camp.
Currently, Malawi has only three urologists: two at Kamuzu Central Hospital(KCH ) in Lilongwe and Dr. Chisenga at ZCH.
