The newly constituted board of the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) has been tasked to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in Uganda. 

They have also been challenged to devise mechanisms of attracting and retaining cardiac super-specialists in the country. 

Quoting global statistics, Hanifah Kawooya, the state minister for health said cardiovascular diseases which include heart disease and stroke are responsible for 17.3million premature deaths and is expected to rise to 23million by 2030. 

“Therefore, the need to address this challenge is eminently urgent. The ministry of health and the country at large are banking on the UHI as the lead agency in the battle against cardiovascular diseases in Uganda,” Kawooya said. 

Hanifah Kawooya, the state minister for health. (Courtesy photo)

She made the above remarks during the inauguration of new board members of UHI on Wednesday. 

Dr James Magara is the board chairman. Other members include Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, Dr. Akiya Oyoo, Prof. Damalie Nakanjako and Grace Ndyareeba. 

Other members of the board include; Dr John Omagino who also doubles as the UHI executive director. Rosemary Kiwanuka, Irene Lugayizi and Peters Kizito Musoke. 

The board which will serve for four years is responsible for the supervision of the UHI, providing advice to the minister on cardiovascular disease-related matters as well as reviewing and approving business and operating plans, budgets and reports. 

Kawooya implored the board to strive towards ensuring that referrals for cardiac care abroad are reduced to a minimum, thus controlling the outflow of foreign currency and restoring public confidence in the country’s health sector. 

Dr James Magara, the board chair

Dr James Magara has a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Regent University, Virginia Beach, USA; Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Management from Uganda Christian University, Mukono; Master of Science in Dental Prosthetics from University of Bristol (UK), and Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. 

Lydia Namuli Wandera, secretary to the Board and senior hospital administrator for Uganda Heart Institute. (Courtesy photo)

He also holds an Advanced Leadership Certificate from Haggai Institute in Hawaii, USA; Oak Seed Executive Leadership Training Course Certificate offered by the Institute for National Transformation and Sundoulos African Leadership Training Certificate in Servant Leadership. 

He has over thirty years of experience in clinical dentistry and previously served as a lecturer at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University for 18 years. 

7000 heart operations

UHI handles over 20,000 patients annually. The Institute started carrying out Open Heart Surgery in 2007, and to date; over 7000 heart operations have been done. This in effect means the UHI can comprehensively handle over 95% of the adult cases and 85% of the cases among children in Uganda.