Jinja Hospital’s only orthopaedic surgeon dies seeking sh200m kidney transplant
Namusoke, hitherto the head of the regional referral health facility’s orthopaedic department, had been battling end-stage kidney disease that made her rely on dialysis.
Dr Jamirah Namusoke. She died at a time she was still seeking sh200m for a kidney transplant. (Photo by George Bita)
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Although Dr Jamirah Namusoke, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, has been healing patients for years, she died seeking a sh200m kidney transplant.
Namusoke, hitherto the head of the regional referral health facility’s orthopaedic department, had been battling end-stage kidney disease that made her rely on dialysis.
New Vision ran a story about her plight in January this year, calling upon well-wishers to help the medic get the much-needed treatment.
Prof. Peter Waiswa of Makerere University School of Public Health, while breaking the news of Namusoke's death on Friday (November 6) evening, said the country has lost a dedicated medic, who gave her all to save patients' lives.
In this file photo, Dr Jamira Namusoke looks at an X-ray report for a patient in the ward. (Photo by George Bita)
Waiswa explained that Namusoke’s health status demanded an urgent kidney transplant from overseas.
“Already efforts were on to raise $55,000 (about sh200m) for a kidney transplant in Türkiye. We hoped that the funds could be raised in time to help save the life of a medic, who has saved many other lives,” Waiswa told New Vision Online earlier.
Who is Namusoke?
Namusoke became a consultant surgeon in 2018 and subsequently established the first orthopaedic theatre at Jinja Hospital.
“I embarked on demanding our own space in terms of an admission ward as well as a functional surgical theatre. An old building was renovated and furnished as the new orthopaedic theatre,” Namusoke said in an earlier interview.
“The new ward can accommodate 25 patients. Some of the beds have improvisations for holding fractured bones of children,” Namusoke explained.
Since she was the sole surgeon over the years, Namusoke would work long hours to ensure all patients are attended to.
“God gave me the energy to struggle with the heavy schedule each day. I recall leaving Jinja Hospital past midnight, including even during the curfew days of the COVID-19 times with many roadblocks to cross,” she narrated.
Family speaks
Abed Nasser Mudiobole, the Iganga Municipality MP and brother to the late, said the family was to meet and draw up a befitting funeral programme for Namusoke.