By Wilfred Sanya

MULAGO Hospital needs about 30 neurosurgeons to treat brain tumour patients and accident victims.

“We have only five neurosurgeons at the moment. In a week we handle about 15 neurosurgeries, which is a very small number compared to the cases that come for treatment daily.

Annually, over 700 people are treated with the help of visiting doctors from foreign countries and universities,” said the hospital boss, Edward Ddumba.

Ddumba attributed the low number of neurosurgeons to the course being complicated and neurosurgeries requiring long hours.

He was presiding over honouring the best intern student for the Jovan and Mary Kiryabwire Foundation Award. Dr. Maria Nabirango scooped the award in the neurosurgery department on Saturday at Mulago Hospital.

The award was created to honour the late Prof. Javan Kiryabwire, the first neurosurgeon graduate in East and Central Africa.

Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire said the contribution of sh60m towards the refurbishment of ward 3A from the people demonstrated their love for the medical staff to work in a conducive environment.

He noted that his late father dreamed of encouraging young people to train as neurosurgeons.