The Neurosurgery Department at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) is a beacon of excellence, committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based neurosurgical care through state-of-the-art technology, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous innovation. Established in 2021 to offer neurosurgical services that help adults and children with complex and serious conditions of the brain, spine, and peripheral nerves.

Since its inception, the department has played a critical role in managing complex neurosurgical conditions, including brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, spinal disorders, epilepsy, and congenital anomalies like spina bifida and hydrocephalus.The department has significantly grown in patient volume, whereby each year, we handle over 3,000 patient visits and conduct more than 500 lifesaving neurosurgical procedures, demonstrating our growing impact and commitment to quality neurosurgical care.

Department Services

·       Neurosurgical Care: Comprehensive management of adult and pediatric neurotrauma, stroke, brain and spinal tumors, and functional neurosurgical disorders.

·       Surgical Services: A dedicated neurosurgery theater operates 24/7, conducting both emergency and elective surgeries. These include craniotomies, VP shunt placements, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), high-intensity focused ultrasound for intraoperative neuronavigation, brain tumor excisions, spinal surgeries, and pediatric neurosurgery for spina bifida, encephalocele, and hydrocephalus. Additionally, there are plans to establish an angiography suite for endovascular surgeries.

·       Neurotrauma Care: Operate a dedicated neurotrauma unit that is fully equipped and staffed with specialized neurosurgeons and neuro-trained nurses.

·       Stroke Care: Delivery of timely, specialized interventions as part of a comprehensive stroke care program.

·       Functional Neurosurgery: Management of movement disorders, epilepsy, and chronic pain syndromes.

Staff and Expertise

·       Neurosurgeons: The department currently boasts three super-specialist neurosurgeons, each with expertise in skull base surgery, neurotrauma, spinal surgery, and neurointervention, one general surgery specialist, and two medical officers, who provide standard neurosurgical diagnostics and treatments.

·       Nurses and Medical Attendants: Dedicated Nurses and medical attendants contribute to patient care, operating theatres, inpatient services, and outreach activities.

·       Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Integrated approach with ENT, Ophthalmology, and Physiotherapy departments, and academic partnerships with the University of Dodoma (UDOM) for holistic patient management.

Facilities and Technology

·       State-of-the-Art Facilities: 3 Fully furnished outpatient rooms, a dedicated procedure room, 40 inpatient beds, and a neurosurgical operating theatre.

·       Advanced Equipment: Includes EEG machines, specialized neurovascular and spinal surgical sets, endoscopy sets, C-Arm and access to 3T MRI and 256-slice CT scanning for advanced diagnostics.

·       Future Infrastructure: Plans underway for the establishment of a dedicated Neurosurgical ICU (Neuro-ICU) and expansion of operating room capacities.

Achievements and Milestones

·       Increased Patient Volume: Our outpatient clinic has seen a 100% increase in patient numbers, while our surgical cases have risen by 30%.

·       Reduced Referrals: We have significantly decreased the number of cases referred to external institutions, demonstrating our enhanced capacity to handle complex cases locally.

·       Fostered international collaborations for training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer.

Future Plans and Goals

·       Establishment of a Comprehensive Stroke Unit: Currently in advanced planning stages, our upcoming Stroke Unit will offer multidisciplinary care using state-of-the-art monitoring and rehabilitation technology.

·       Capacity Building: Ongoing training of additional super specialists and specialized neurosurgical nurses.

·       Academic Programs: Development of educational collaborations with UDOM and COSECSA.

·       Medical Tourism: Positioning BMH as a regional neurosurgical center of excellence.

·       Operational Efficiency: Maintain 24/7 operating theatre service and improve clinic scheduling via SMS and online platforms.

·       Technology Adoption: Embrace neuronavigation and intraoperative imaging technologies.