Chinese medical team trains Tanzanian doctors in difficult airway management

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 28th Chinese medical team to mainland Tanzania on Monday trained medical staff at Tanzania's Muhimbili National Hospital in advanced airway management techniques to improve anesthesia safety for patients undergoing complex surgical procedures.

Liu Jia, an anesthesiology expert on the medical team, led specialized training on awake fiberoptic bronchoscopic intubation, focusing on managing patients with difficult airways.

The training covered clinical indications, equipment cleaning and disinfection, operational safety procedures, and practical techniques for performing the procedure.

Liu also coordinated the donation of two video fiberoptic bronchoscopes to the hospital's department of anesthesiology to support the adoption of the technique.

The procedure enables doctors to secure a patient's airway before administering general anesthesia, reducing the risk of life-threatening complications in patients with complex airway conditions, including those with burn injuries and facial deformities.

Lukansola Mabusi, head of the department of anesthesiology, welcomed the training and equipment donation, saying they addressed critical gaps in the hospital's capacity to manage difficult airways.

He thanked the Chinese medical team for providing practical expertise and equipment to strengthen local clinical capabilities.

Liu said the initiative reflected growing China-Tanzania cooperation in healthcare, adding that the team would continue providing technical training and equipment support to improve medical services in Tanzania.