Mulago Specialized National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, is launching a week-long surgical camp to address a backlog of patients. During this camp, the hospital will focus on complex surgeries, including neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic procedures, and gastrointestinal surgeries, both for adults and children. These specialized surgeries are part of the hospital’s efforts to reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, the hospital’s Executive Director, emphasized that the camp’s purpose is twofold. Firstly, it aims to raise awareness of the hospital’s advancements in specialized and super-specialized surgeries. Secondly, it seeks to alleviate the backlog of patients awaiting surgical interventions.
Dr. Michael Edgar Muhumuza, head of the Neurosurgery Division, highlighted the hospital’s progress in neurosurgery. Notably, they can now perform brain tumor removal using laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique that avoids large incisions.
However, Dr. Muhumuza expressed concerns about the increasing burden on the Neurosurgery Division due to avoidable road traffic injuries, particularly involving Boda Boda riders. He noted that a significant portion of patients in the Intensive Care Unit are victims of these accidents, contributing to a three-fold increase in trauma cases, including head injuries, even among children.
Dr. Norbert Orwotho, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at the hospital, encouraged the public to seek consultation and assessment in the sixteen clinical areas covered during the camp. Additionally, the hospital invites the general public to attend and learn about the latest innovations in care and services offered at the national referral facility.
