STORY: Tanzanian children undergo heart surgeries with Chinese-pioneered technology
SHOOTING DATE: Jan. 18, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 22, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:26
LOCATION: DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the surgeries
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAN XIANGBIN, Professor at Fuwai Hospital
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THEOPHYLLY LUDOVICK, Pediatrician at JKCI
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): AJILI ANTHONY MSUNZA, Parent of a patient

STORYLINE:

Five Tanzanian children, aged between three and seven, have undergone cardiovascular surgeries using the PAN-Procedure, a minimally invasive technique pioneered by Professor Pan Xiangbin at Fuwai Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

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 procedure at the Chinese-built Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Dar es Salaam marked a significant step in introducing advanced Chinese medical technology to Tanzania.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAN XIANGBIN, Professor at Fuwai Hospital
"The PAN-Procedure has been used all over the world. We win the award from the WHO (World Health Organization). We also get support from the United Nations. The United Nations provides financial and diplomatic support to spread the PAN-Procedure to save more patients all over the world."

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.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THEOPHYLLY LUDOVICK, Pediatrician at JKCI
"The burden of cardiovascular disease in Tanzania is still very high, with the prevalence of 10 out of 1,000 children. This is to say, in every 100 children, one might have cardiovascular disease, particularly birth defects. Most of our communities, because of lack of knowledge, but also with a reduced number of expertise, most of these conditions are not known to most of the places. So with this training and the donation that we will get, (such as) mobile vehicles, we will be able to reach even remote areas where we can operate this kind of (procedure)."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): AJILI ANTHONY MSUNZA, Parent of a patient
"I am very grateful for the Chinese doctors because they have given my child a new hope of life. They have done a tremendous procedure and my child is doing well."

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.

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.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
(XHTV)