Travelogue by Dr Andrea Huth, Halle/Saale

After a 2-year break, I was finally back travelling to Africa with my FLAIR P5 surgical microscope from Prechtl TechSolutions. So far, the microscope has been used in the context of Interplast-Germany e.V. missions in Burkina Faso, but Covid 19 and several military coups in Burkina brought the ophthalmological missions there to a standstill for the time being. It was only when I was offered the opportunity to strengthen the TanZanEye team in Tanzania that I was able to contribute my own energy and experience to other countries.

Despite the forced rest period for the surgical microscope, it was in very good condition thanks to regular battery charging and almost self-explanatory assembly; only a small dent adorns the case. Such “memories” are usually caused by luggage transport, but have no effect on the microscope due to the very efficient packaging.

Due to the exemplary import permit, there were no problems with the microscope at the airports, although the case had to be opened for the interested officials.

Once arrived at the mission site in Sumbawanga, the surgical microscope could be set up and put into operation immediately. This meant that we had two microscopes at our disposal for the duration of the mission, which of course increased the efficiency of the operation. The possibility of a quick change of location was particularly practical: while eye operations on adult patients took place under local anaesthesia in the operating theatre of the eye hospital, operations on children depended on general anaesthesia, which could only be performed in the operating theatre of the general hospital. For this purpose, the microphone was dismantled within a few minutes, stowed in the case and set up just as quickly elsewhere.

Because of its ease of use and very good suitability for anterior segment surgery, the microscope was also popular with local surgeons. I have the feeling that one or the other would have liked to keep it.

On the way back, I had the opportunity to meet a “sibling” of my surgical microscope in Mpanda: Angelina Mtama and Erick Msigomba, local cataract surgeons and members of the TanzanEye team, use a younger brother of the microscope from Prechtl TechSolutions on site.

After the end of the eye camp in Tanzania, the surgical microscope arrived safely back in Germany and can look forward to its next use.

Always ready for use: The FLAIR P5 in West and East Africa