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2,500 procedures are anticipated to be completed during the camp (Courtesy Picture)
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By Edson Kinene
Over 400 patients underwent successful surgeries on the first day of the Ankole Surgical Camp, which began on Monday, September 23rd, and will run until September 28th.
A team of 400 medical professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, radiologists, and urologists, are operating at 25 Health Center IVs and hospitals across the Ankole Sub-region. The camp is serving districts such as Ibanda, Kazo, Mbarara, Isingiro, Mitooma, Buhweju, Rwampara, Ntungamo, Sheema, Rubirizi, Kiruhura, Bushenyi, and Mbarara City.
The surgeons, who arrived over the weekend, will spend the week performing a range of surgeries. At the launch event in Kampala, Moses Galukande, president of the Association of Surgeons, anticipated 2,500 procedures would be completed during the camp.
Halson Kagure, Public Relations Officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, reported a high influx of patients seeking free medical services. Surgeries already completed at the hospital have been moved to the surgical ward for post-operative care, with some patients discharged.
Caudal anesthesia for children undergoing herniotomy on day 3 of the surgical camp in the Ankole sub-region (Courtesy Picture)
Prof. Dan Kisitu, Head of the Surgery Department at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, noted that the team is working around the clock to address cases including urology, brain surgery, plastic reconstruction, and orthopedic procedures. He added that while the camp initially aimed to treat 2,000 patients, the final tally is expected to exceed that number by the camp’s end.
Plans are also being made to accommodate cases that may not be addressed within the camp’s timeframe.
The Ankole Surgical Camp, an annual event supported by the Association of Surgeons, the Ministry of Health, and other partners, also received backing from the Ankole Parliamentary Caucus. This camp follows last year’s successful event held in the Lango Sub-region.
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