Saturday 18 May 2013

TANZANIA: Iconic heart expert Masau dies in Dar


Tanzania Heart Institute staffs 

By Mkinga Mkinga, The Citizen Reporter  (email the author)

Posted  Friday, May 17  2013 at  21:10

Dar es Salaam. The founder of the Tanzania Heart Institute (THI) and respected cardiovascular surgeon, Dr Ferdinand Masau, has died in a hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was admitted since last Sunday.
Speaking to The Citizen on Saturday at the deceaced residence in Mbweni, his widow Janeth Masau said her husband died on Thursday evening at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam where he had been admitted for the last four days.
She said her husband was diagnosed with pneumonia, anaemia and deficiency of oxygen in the blood after being admitted at the hospital. Mrs Musau says that Dr Masau’s health problems started after his hospital equipment were confiscated by his landlord.
The widow said currently family members were in a meeting to discuss funeral arrangements on whether his body would be buried at his home village Murutunguru in Ukerewe, Mwanza Rregion, or here in Dar es Salaam.
“He has left a widow and five children, two of whom are pursuing medical studie...he has left a huge gap in our family,” the widow noted.
Tanzania Heart Institute was founded by the deceased during his cardiovascular surgery training at the Texas Heart Institute in the United States.
The THI is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the treatment of heart, blood vessels, chest and related diseases through innovative and progressive programmes in research, education and patient care in Tanzania.
Reached for comment yesterday, the deputy minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Suleiman Rashid, said the nation has lost a great man who dedicated his professional life to assisting the needy.
“I knew him for many years since we were both interns at KCMC hospital in Kilimanjaro Region...he was dedicated to saving the lives of fellow Tanzanians. Health professionals have lost a great man,” Dr Rashid said.

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