Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) is still basking in glory after medics from its Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department recently made international headlines with an innovative maternal health project that clinched a prestigious global award.
The study, titled “Reducing Iatrogenic Genitourinary Fistula in Uganda: The Impact of a Short-Term In-Service Training in Essential Operative Obstetrics,” was endorsed by the International Urogynecology Association (IUGA).
Led by Prof. Musa Kayondo, the head of the hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, the research was presented by Dr. Onesmus Byamukama at IUGA’s annual scientific summit in Barcelona, Spain.
The research team included distinguished medical practitioners: Dr. Verena Geissbühler, Dr. Christopher Tarnay, Dr. Brenda Ainomugisha, Dr. Wilson Birungi, Dr. Rogers Kajabwangu, and Dr. Paul Kato Kalyebara.
A groundbreaking 11-year study published in the International Journal of Women’s Health revealed a concerning trend: a significant rise in iatrogenic fistula cases among Ugandan women. This condition—characterized by an abnormal opening between the birth canal and the urinary tract—is often caused by prolonged labor, surgical errors, or inexperience during childbirth. The study found a staggering increase in cases, from 9.6% to 43.2%, between 2010 and 2021.
In a bid to mitigate this public health issue, the team developed the Essential Training in Operative Obstetrics (ETOO) program, which equips junior doctors with the skills and supervision necessary to perform safer cesarean deliveries.
Dr. Byamukama noted that the ETOO program is currently being implemented in western and northern Uganda and has already led to a significant decline in iatrogenic fistula cases.
At the recently concluded annual scientific forum in Barcelona, Professor Abdul Sultan, a renowned urogynecologist at Croydon University, presented the award on behalf of IUGA. He expressed optimism that the project would help address urogynecology challenges that continue to hamper women’s health in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In fact, the study’s findings provide a compelling case for scaling up the program nationwide to ensure safer surgical care and protect the health and dignity of Ugandan women.
Associate Prof. Kayondo emphasized that this recognition is not just for MRRH, but for every mother, health worker, and community striving for safer childbirth in Uganda.
Dr. Deus Twesigye, the hospital’s acting director, commended the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department for its outstanding work and dedication to reducing maternal deaths.
With Uganda’s current maternal mortality rate standing at 189 per 100,000 live births, this research offers a promising solution toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing that rate to fewer than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Mbarara Hospital, which delivers over 12,000 mothers annually, is painting an optimistic picture with its dedicated doctors and innovative approaches to maternal healthcare.
Written by Halson Kagure, the Communications Specialist and Public Relations Officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a government hospital and teaching affiliate of Mbarara University of Science and Technology
