New cath lab to boost heart institute procedures
Aceng noted that the laboratory will empower Uganda Heart Institute to handle over 10,000 complex heart procedures during its life span.
Minister of health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng commissioning the Catheterization laboratory at the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala on December 17, 2024. (Photos by Violet Nabatanzi)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
The health ministry has commissioned a state-of-the-art catheterisation laboratory at the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala.
The development marks a major milestone in Uganda’s healthcare journey. The launch was officiated by the health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng on December 17, 2024.
A catheterisation laboratory is a specialised facility where minimally invasive (closed) heart procedures are performed to diagnose & treat cardiovascular conditions.
Senior consultant cardiologist at Uganda Heart Institute Dr Emmy Okello says the cath lab is the most advanced in Africa.
The new equipment comes with a flexible multi-purpose operating bed which can be moved in different directions enabling the surgeons to access any part of the patient’s body during the procedure.
The new equipment produces 3D images providing accurate diagnosis and treatment, hence being the first of its kind in Africa, Okello said.
Worth noting, with the cath lab procedure, patients' stay in the hospital is shortened to about three days, hence less costly as opposed to open heart surgery procedure, according to the doctor.
Heart patients aged above seven years and grappling with health conditions such as blocked or holes in heart vessels qualify to be treated using the Cath Lab procedure.
Aceng noted that the laboratory will empower Uganda Heart Institute to handle over 10,000 complex heart procedures during its life span.
“This is exciting and it gives me comfort to know that the majority of patients will be worked on at home,” she said.
The Uganda Heart Institute has long been a cornerstone of hope for individuals and families affected by cardiovascular diseases.
Since the installation of the previous cath lab in 2012, the institute has performed over 6,000 complex heart procedures that previously necessitated travel abroad, hence saving the country over sh600 billion (US$ 170 million).
After serving effectively for over a decade, that facility reached the end of its operational lifespan, paving the way for this upgraded replacement.
Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) executive director Dr John Omagino lauded the Government for the financial support rendered to the institute.
“The Government has fulfilled its promise by providing everything we have asked. Now the ball is in our hands to deliver,” Omagino said.
A team of Cath Lab staff conducting a procedure.
He, however, said the need for Cath Lab services is big. The guidelines stipulate having one Cath Lab for every one million population. This implies the country needs 50 Cath Labs to meet the glaring cardiovascular needs of the country.
The burden
Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.
Here in Uganda, one in four adults (25%) lives with hypertension, a major precursor to heart disease. Of the 1.6 million babies born annually, 1% (16,000 babies) suffer from congenital heart disease, with 8,000 requiring urgent intervention.
Additionally, Uganda continues to battle Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), the leading preventable acquired heart condition among children and young adults, affecting an estimated 300,000 schoolchildren across the country.
These statistics emphasize the pressing need for investments in facilities like this CathLab, which will significantly enhance our ability to combat the cardiovascular disease burden, Dr. Aceng said.
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