Mulago Specialized National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, is commencing a week-long surgical camp where they plan to address more than four thousand cases. The hospital’s Executive Director, Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, announced during a press conference that the camp, a gift to Uganda in celebration of Independence Day, will focus on complex surgeries in neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and gastrointestinal complications for both adults and children, rather than routine procedures like hernia surgeries.
The primary goal of the camp is not only to raise awareness about the hospital’s progress in specialized and super-specialized surgeries, previously sought abroad, but also to reduce the backlog of patients awaiting surgery.
Dr. Michael Edgar Muhumuza, head of the Neurosurgery Division, emphasized the benefit of the multidisciplinary team’s collaboration during the camp, which will expedite procedures. Notably, the hospital has made significant advancements in neurosurgery, including minimally invasive brain tumor removal techniques through the nose.
However, Dr. Muhumuza expressed concern about the increasing burden on the Neurosurgery Division due to avoidable road traffic injuries, particularly those involving Boda Boda riders. He revealed that a substantial number of intensive care patients are victims of Boda Boda accidents, with head injuries being a common outcome. The trauma from road traffic injuries has tripled, affecting even children who sustain head injuries while traveling to school or riding Boda Bodas.
While some patients have already been scheduled for surgery during the upcoming camp, Dr. Norbert Orwotho, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at the hospital, emphasized that consultations and assessments will be available in the sixteen clinical areas they plan to address. The hospital also encourages the public to attend the camp to learn about the latest innovations in care and new services offered at the national referral facility.