Free life-saving heart surgery saves Kagadi toddler

A nine-month-old toddler from Kagadi district has successfully undergone a life-saving surgery at TMR International Hospital.

The toddler, who initially had Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), was treated at no cost, and the surgery can be life-saving if conducted on time, according to medics.

PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) is a congenital heart condition where a blood vessel that should naturally close after birth remains open, causing abnormal blood flow that strains the heart and lungs. If untreated, PDA can lead to heart failure, poor growth, and life-threatening complications.

According to Dr. Muhoozi Rwakaryebe, a consultant cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and team lead for the surgery, “A PDA ligation is surgery intended to close the PDA, a congenital defect that takes blood from the left side of the heart to the right, causing symptoms of heart failure. Whenever these are diagnosed, it is always better to close them early so that children can grow normally without complications such as recurrent pneumonia and failure to thrive.”

He added that the surgery was the first of its kind at the facility, and that cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, and cardiac critical care nurses ensured the surgery was performed safely and successfully.

Joyful mother speaks out

Monica Karungi, the toddler’s mother, expressed her gratitude: “I was very worried about my baby’s heart condition, but TMR has given me hope. I am so grateful to see my child healthy and smiling after the surgery. I feel like a burden has been lifted from our family. Thank you so much TMR. I do not know where I would have gotten the money to treat my son.”

The hospital’s executive director, Dr. Daniel M. Talemwa, recognised what he termed as the incredible work being done at the Uganda Heart Institute, insisting it remains the backbone of cardiac care in the country. 

“However, the overwhelming number of cases at the institute means that many patients face long waits, with constraints of the available resources at the Public facility. Our goal at TMR is to complement and enhance existing efforts by expanding access to cardiac surgery through partnerships such as this one with Upasuaji International,” he stressed.
He added, “By building additional capacity in the private sector, we hope to significantly reduce the backlog of patients at the Uganda Heart Institute, and ensure that more Ugandans can receive timely, life-saving care.”

Upasuaji International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving surgical access across multiple specialities in the East African region, sponsored the surgery, and the organisation’s chief executive, Lynsay Balumuka, hailed the process, saying, “This accomplishment is a step forward in our core goal of increasing access to surgical care for children with cardiac conditions. We are incredibly proud of this achievement, which brings us closer to a future where every child has access to the life-saving care they need.”