The rheumatic heart disease, a condition that affects the heart valves, is now the most prevalent heart problem affecting most Zimbabwean patients seeking treatment, a top cardiovascular expert has said.
Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Dr Wilfred Muteweye told The Herald in an interview that rheumatic heart disease cases are the most common condition they have operated on.
"Our job is to remove the diseased valve and put in an artificial one. This, if done early enough, will allow for the reversal of symptoms and allow the patient to live life to the full, to have a life expectancy similar to any other people in the population."Experts say the heart valves are important to ensure blood flows through the heart smoothly.
In the first quarter of 2024, Zimbabwean surgeons conducted nine successful heart operations at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, one of the country's largest referral hospitals. "Heart valve surgery is the only relief for most of them. Sadly, not many Sub - Saharan countries offer cardiac surgery. In addition, cardiac surgeons are in short supply. The ratio of cardiac surgeons to the general population in Africa is ome surgeon per 5 million people, while in the West it is one surgeon per 50 - 100 000 people. In Zimbabwe, we are slightly better than other African countries with one surgeon per 3 million people," Dr Muteweye said.
Anyone can develop rheumatic fever, but it is more common in children aged five to 15 years and it is very rare in children younger than three years old as well as adults.
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