Eight patients already successfully operated as Uganda Heart Institute brings specialized care closer to Lango and Acholi regions.
LIRA, Uganda – At least 11 children from the Lango and Acholi sub-regions are set to undergo specialized closed heart surgeries at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH), in a five-day medical camp that began Monday, April 13, 2026.
By Tuesday, April 14, surgeons had already operated on eight patients, carrying out four successful surgeries each day. The camp is scheduled to conclude on Friday, April 17, with medical officials hopeful that more children will leave with restored health and brighter futures.
The procedures target children aged between one and eight years who suffer from Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart condition in which blood flows in the reverse direction, impairing growth and normal well-being.
The surgeries are being led by a senior pediatric cardiac surgical team from the Uganda Heart Institute, headed by Dr. Micheal Oketcho, a Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon. They are working in close collaboration with surgeons at LRRH, led by Dr. Bosco Omongo Ekwan.
Dr. Andrew Odur, Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, confirmed that the children who have already undergone surgery are recovering well.
“We are happy that they are going to regain their normal functionality and thrive as young people to achieve their full potential,” Dr. Odur said.
He praised the Uganda Heart Institute for prioritizing the delivery of specialized services closer to the region.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the management of Uganda Heart Institute for bringing specialized services to the region of Lango to benefit the people. Special appreciation goes to the Ministry of Health for this forward thinking,” he added.
Dr. Odur noted that the heart surgery camp aligns with LRRH’s mandate to grow all specialized services, adding that the hospital will continue engaging the institute to become a launchpad for stronger future collaboration.
According to Dr. Oketcho, the lead pediatric cardiac surgeon, underlying causes of congenital heart diseases in children may be linked to pregnant women taking medication without prescription, or maternal illnesses during pregnancy such as rubella and measles infections.
Warning signs of heart complications in children include difficulty breathing, fast breathing, failure to breastfeed, and recurrent chest infections, he said.
Dr. Bosco Omongo Ekwan, a general surgeon at LRRH, expressed deep gratitude for the mentorship provided by the Uganda Heart Institute team.
“They have shared a lot of skills and knowledge with us. In the near future, we want to start conducting heart surgeries at LRRH on our own,” he said.
This is the second pediatric closed heart surgery camp held at Lira Regional Referral Hospital under the auspices of the Uganda Heart Institute. Last year, the team successfully operated on 14 children with similar conditions.
