Chinese innovation mending hearts in Tanzania
DAR ES SALAAM — Tears of joy flowed as Husna Shabaan Kingwande learned that her 3-year-old son Ikram's heart surgery had been a success.
The procedure at the Chinese-built Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar es Salaam marked a significant step in introducing advanced Chinese medical technology to Tanzania.
Ikram was one of five children aged 3 to 7 who underwent cardiovascular surgeries using the PAN-Procedure, a minimally invasive technique pioneered by Pan Xiangbin of Fuwai Hospital in Beijing.
This revolutionary procedure, which relies on ultrasound imaging, treats cardiovascular diseases through peripheral blood vessels without requiring open-heart surgery or radiation exposure.
The surgeries were conducted by a team of five Chinese medical experts, six Tanzanian specialists from the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, and one member of the 27th Chinese medical team stationed at the institute.
