NDOLA Teaching Hospital (NTH) is busking with pride after successfully performing its first-ever brain tumor surgery, a significant medical milestone for Zambia’s Copperbelt Province.
According to the hospital’s public relations unit, the surgery was performed on a male patient, who had been suffering from severe headaches for six months.
The patient underwent a complex 10-hour operation to remove a rapidly growing tumor.
Thanks to the surgery, the patient, who had been unable to walk for over three weeks before the surgery, is now stable and recovering.
The patient was admitted to NTH after experiencing persistent headaches, vision problems, and confused speech.
A CT scan revealed a tumor in the right temporal lobe of his brain.
The hospital stated that previously, such a condition would have necessitated a referral to Lusaka or even abroad for treatment, causing significant financial and emotional strain on families.
This successful surgery, performed by the newly established Neurosurgery Unit within the hospital’s Surgery Department, marks a turning point for specialised healthcare services in the region.
The surgical team included neurosurgeon Dr Gerald Musa, along with surgeons Dr Royd Ngoma, Dr Songwe Mushikita, and Dr Chifundo Daka.
Other team members included anaesthetists Dr Kabamba and Dr Katulondi, and a dedicated team of scrub nurses, a runner nurse, a porter, and a radiographer.
By Noel Iyombwa
Kalemba September 12, 2025
