Ankole surgical camp attracts over 300 surgeons

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MBARARA - The team of over 300 health workers comprising surgeons of various specialities from the Association of Surgeons of Uganda have camped in the Ankole region to conduct free surgeries. 

The weeklong surgical camp kicked off on September 22, 2024.

Addressing journalists at Mbarara University Inn hotel in Mbarara city, Dr Fred Bisso, who represented the President of the Association of Surgeons of Uganda, said the surgeries will be conducted in 25 sites in 13 districts. 

These include Mbarara, Ibanda, Kazo, Kiruhura, Ibanda, Isingiro and Rwampara. Others are Ntungamo, Mitooma, Bushenyi, Sheema, Buhweju and Rubirizi.

He said they are going to handle all kinds of surgeries, including those related to hernia, hydrocele, cleft lip, borne deformities, TBs, endoscopies, breasts, plastic surgery and reconstruction.

Prof. Dan Kisitu, the head of the Department of Surgery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, said any cases which cannot be done at the lower facilities will be done at Mbarara referral. 

Kisitu said Mbarara referral hospital will handle neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgeries, ear nose and throat, and pediatrics surgeries, among others.

The doctors hailed Ankole Parliamentary Caucus, the health ministry and all pharmaceutical companies for supporting the camp. 

Kashari North  MP Basil Bataringaya, who is also Ankole Parliamentary Caucus chairperson, appealed to all residents in the region to take advantage of the free services and work on the diseases that have burdened them for long.

Bataringaya explained that their involvement in supporting the camp was part of their corporate social responsibility. At the end of the camp, a team of doctors will remain to support those who underwent surgery.

Explaining the aim of the camp, Bisso who is also the head of the ear, nose and throat department at Mulago Hospital, said they organised the camp to support citizens to get specialised services they cannot access locally which require them to travel hundreds of miles and are costly. 

He added that they also want to build capacity of the health facilities where operations will be carried out and the camp also helps to interest specialists to work in the local areas.