Govt praises Turkish medical team for life-changing free surgical camp services

The camp was organised through a partnership of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, Safe Love Orphaned Children Africa, Turkish medical volunteers and Jinja Referral Hospital.

The exercise brought together Turkish specialists and Ugandan healthcare workers, who provided free surgeries and specialised medical care to patients that would have otherwise struggled to access such services.

According to the minister, many patients who had endured medical conditions for years received treatment during the camp, enabling them to regain their health and improve their quality of life.

"Through your dedication, many patients who had suffered for years have received treatment, regained their health and been given a new opportunity to live productive lives. Your compassion has touched countless families," she noted.

The minister pledged to work closely with the team to facilitate future missions and ensure their success. She also proposed establishing long-term partnerships between the two countries to improve healthcare training and professional development.

She called for broader cooperation to strengthen Uganda's health sector by supporting modern medical equipment, surgical instruments, diagnostic machines, intensive care equipment, ambulances, and other critical health resources.

Dr Alfred Yayi, the director of Jinja referral hospital, said a total of 2,323 patients were screened, out of whom 100 major surgeries were carried out in addition to over 300 minor surgeries that included dental procedures. Several people with facial deformities and swellings had them removed.

"We sincerely appreciate colleagues from Turkey for making it to Uganda and, more specifically, to Jinja hospital to redeem life. This partnership has significantly strengthened the hospital's ability to provide specialised healthcare services to the people of Busoga,” Yayi said.

Beyond providing medical treatment, he observed that the Turkish specialists also shared knowledge and expertise with Ugandan healthcare professionals, strengthening local capacity in surgical care and specialised medical services.

"Our teams have been working side by side with the visiting doctors to ensure quality service delivery. This collaboration has also provided an opportunity for skills transfer to our local health workers," he said.

Yayi added that the camp was organised as part of the hospital's mandate to provide specialised and general healthcare services to the population in Busoga and beyond. He described the camp as one of the key interventions aimed at reducing the burden of untreated surgical conditions in the sub-region.

Manjeri Kyebakutika, the former Jinja city women Member of Parliament and one of the organisers, appealed to government for the installation of a mammography and dialysis machines at Jinja hospital to improve access to critical health services in the sub-region.

She explained that a mammography machine would help in screening and early detection of breast cancer, reducing the burden of advanced disease among women, while the dialysis machine helps patients suffering from kidney-related illnesses from trekking long distances to Kampala for treatment.