by Hua Hongli, Lucas Liganga

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tears of joy flowed freely as Husna Shabaan Kingwande learned that her three-year-old son Ikram's heart surgery had been a success.

The procedure at the Chinese-built Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Dar es Salaam, a major city on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast, marked a significant step in introducing advanced Chinese medical technology to Tanzania.

Ikram was one of five children, aged between three and seven, who underwent cardiovascular surgeries using the PAN-Procedure, a minimally invasive technique pioneered by Professor Pan Xiangbin of China's Fuwai Hospital.

This revolutionary procedure, which relies on ultrasound imaging rather than traditional fluoroscopy, 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 JKCI, and one member of the 27th Chinese medical team stationed at the institute.

For Kingwande, a 22-year-old native of Tanzania's Coast region, her son's successful operation means a brighter future for the boy, who was diagnosed nine months ago.

"I wholeheartedly thank the Chinese doctors and their Tanzanian counterparts for giving my son a new lease on life," she said, tears streaming down her face.

Her gratitude was echoed by Ajili Anthony Msunza, a father of two from the Mbeya region, whose five-year-old daughter Noreen was among the young patients.

"This new technology has rekindled hope for heart patients in Tanzania," he said.

Violet Samuel Mkonwa, a 40-year-old mother from Shinyanga, northern Tanzania, expressed relief that her five-year-old son Emmanuel could now look forward to attending school without health complications.

The PAN-Procedure represents a significant advance in interventional cardiology.

During a training session at the JKCI, Pan explained that the technique allows patients to remain conscious during treatment, eliminating the need for radiation-intensive catheter labs.

"This procedure is not only safer and more effective but also makes cardiac intervention accessible in community clinics," he said.

The training session attracted about 50 Tanzanian cardiologists, including Theophylly Ludovick, a pediatrician at the JKCI who was recently trained in China on PAN-Procedure techniques.

Ludovick emphasized the procedure's potential in addressing Tanzania's significant burden of cardiovascular diseases, with one in 100 children suffering from congenital heart defects.

"This collaboration between China and Tanzania is a vital step in saving lives and strengthening bilateral ties," he said.

Peter Kisenge, the executive director of the JKCI, highlighted the institute's longstanding partnership with China, formalized through a memorandum of understanding with Fuwai Hospital.

The agreement includes screening and treating children with congenital heart diseases and advanced training for JKCI staff. Over 1,000 children have since been screened, with several undergoing successful PAN-Procedure interventions.

Kisenge said the new technology could significantly boost the institute's capacity, increasing the number of annual procedures from 783 to over 2,000.

"This innovation not only addresses the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases but also strengthens the bond between China and Tanzania," he said.

Since its establishment in 2013, with support from the Chinese government, the JKCI has become the largest and most advanced cardiovascular treatment center in East Africa. The introduction of cutting-edge technology like the PAN-Procedure continues to build on its legacy, offering hope to thousands of Tanzanian families and fostering a deeper connection between the two nations. Enditem

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