Surgery in progress at St Peter’s hospital
Cheques for £1,000 have been sent by All Saints to the African Steps charity to help buy a diathermy machine for use in operations at St Peter’s Hospital on Likoma Island, Malawi.
The machine cauterises blood vessels, making surgery much quicker, easier and safer. Plans for its purchase follow a review of surgical procedures at Likoma by consultant cardiac surgeon Raj Jutley, founder of the Pan-Africa Heart Foundation.
All Saints has undertaken to help raise the £2,500 needed to buy the machine.
African Steps aims to eradicate rheumatic heart disease from Likoma Island, something which has only ever been achieved in one country in history before.
In 2015, a heart team will spend a month screening the Island people for heart disease and rheumatic fever. A plan will then be devised for the treatment of those affected.
There is currently no effective treatment available for most of the heart disease suffered by people on Likoma and African Steps hopes that this screening program and treatment will save many lives.
