Africa-Press – Mauritius. A new Spine Unit set up at the Victoria Hospital was inaugurated this morning by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal. The renovated Spine Unit provides for the adequate modern infrastructure and clinical expertise to treat patients with complex spinal pathologies including spinal trauma, spinal tumours, deformities, infections and degenerative spinal conditions.
It also makes use of advanced technology, with the recent acquisition of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Computed Tomography scan for enhanced specialised medical treatment.
In a statement, the Health Minister underlined that the setting up of the Spine Unit will enable local health professionals to provide medical and surgical care to patients in Mauritius itself.
He recalled that previously patients suffering from spinal pathologies were sent abroad, to India, so that they undergo operations, which on average cost Rs 1 million per patient. Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal pointed out that some 206 patients have received medical treatments for spinal pathologies so far.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the collaboration of Professor Martin Gehrchen who is in charge of the Spine unit at the National University Hospital Copenhagen in Denmark, in the setting up of the new Spine Unit.
He informed that Professor Gehrchen has not only carried out operations on several local patients in Mauritius, but has also trained local health professionals.
Three medical officers have obtained training, free of charge, in Denmark, he indicated. Minister Jagutpal also reiterated the commitment of his Ministry to ensure that these patients are provided the necessary health care.
As for Professor Martin Gehrchen, he stated that it is important for Mauritius to have a specific Spine Unit to provide the necessary health care to local patients.
He further said that the project was conceived in 2012, with the aim of having a dedicated team of local health professionals to take care of spine cases in the public health service.
Through the training we offered, the health care workers obtained the knowledge and skills to be able on the long-term dispense the necessary specialist health services in this medical field, he added. Professor Martin Gehrchen also emphasised that he is currently in Mauritius to provide treatment to patients with severe deformities.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
