The major operation that Opposition Leader Alfred Sant underwent yesterday morning “went according to plan and his condition was stable”, the head of the surgery team, Anthony Zammit said shortly after the procedure was over.
Mr Zammit, who is also a Labour Party election candidate, was delivering a medical bulletin following the three-hour operation, with Hospital Superintendent Frank Bartolo at his side.
Members of the Labour Party also present during the news conference included deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon, president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, secretary-general Jason Micallef and Labour’s main spokesman for health, Michael Farrugia.
“The major operation was carried out earlier this morning and went according to plan. There were no complications during the surgical procedure,” said Mr Zammit.
The Opposition Leader will be required to spend 10 days of complete rest in hospital, barring complications, said the surgeon, adding that for this reason, no visitors would be allowed to call on Dr Sant.
More medical bulletins on Dr Sant’s condition are to be issued in the coming days and the Labour Party is expected to make them publicly available.
For ethical reasons, journalists were not allowed to ask any questions.
A number of personalities, organisations, unions and political parties yesterday issued statements to wish Dr Sant a speedy recovery and expressed solidarity with him and his family.
These included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Archbishop Paul Cremona, OP, and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, who said they also spoke to Dr Sant on the phone on Wednesday, several local councils, the party Azzjoni Nazzjonali, the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM), the council of the institute of Maltese journalists (IGM), the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), and the Labour youth forum.
Shortly after the news that Dr Sant would have to undergo surgery was released on Wednesday, President Eddie Fenech Adami called him to wish him a quick recovery.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, on his family’s behalf and on behalf of the government, sent him a letter to express solidarity and wish him a speedy recovery.
Nationalist Party secretary general Joe Saliba and Alternattiva Demokratika secretary general Victor Galea, as well as the MLP national executive and the Labour parliamentary group all issued short statements in which they expressed their good wishes for the Labour leader.
Charles Mangion takes over as Acting Opposition Leader
Deputy Labour leader Charles Mangion, with immediate effect, has taken over as Acting Opposition Leader and acting Labour leader, the MLP said in a statement issued shortly after the press conference at Mater Dei Hospital.
The Labour Party thanked all those involved in Dr Sant’s surgery procedure, particularly head of the surgery team Anthony Zammit and director of the Anaesthesia Department Joseph Zarb Adami, who assisted in the operation.
The party also thanked Labour’s main spokesman for health Michael Farrugia and gastroenterology specialist Mario Vassallo, who were of assistance to Dr Sant over the past few days and who assisted the team that underwent the surgery procedure.
The MLP said it was grateful that so many people, including the President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Gozo Bishop, had sent their well-wishes to Dr Sant and his family.
In the statement, the Labour Party said that following a request from hospital superiors and as a sign of prudence, flowers and other items should not be sent to Dr Sant during his time spent in hospital.