Annual neurology camp starts at Mulago

By Gloria Nakajubi

Experts from the University of Duke in the US have again set camp at Mulago National Referral hospital for a neurosurgery camp targeting complex procedures.

The procedures that are always carried out free of charge are scheduled to take one week covering between 25-30 patients.

The lead neurosurgeon, Professor Michael M. Haglund, explained in an interview that since the camp started on Sunday they have seen about three patients undergoing procedures of not less than six hours with the last having lasted eight hours.

  The brain tumour operation was conducted by Prof. Michael M. Haglund of Duke  Global Health Institute. The institute  does brain tumour  surgery twice a year at the national referral hospital, Mulago. April 21, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

Haglund explained that they are targeting such conditions as meningioma (a tumor that develops in the  membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), pituitary tumours (affect the pituitary gland which is a master gland that produces hormones and controls all the other glands) and spinal cord tumours.

Dr. Michael Muhumuza, consultant neurosurgeon and head of neurosurgery dept at Mulago shows the brain tumour that was  being removed. The operation was conducted by Prof. Michael M. Haglund of Duke Global Health Institute. The institute  does brain tumour surgery twice a year at the national referral hospital, Mulago. April 21, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende

The team of 17 experts includes anesthetists, neurologists with special skills in brain tumours and biomedical engineers among others who are working closely with members of the neurology department at Mulago.

According to Consultant Neurosurgeon Michael Muhumuza, the head of the neurosurgery department at Mulago hospital, some of the procedures are quite complex and often times they have to refer patients abroad though most of them can be performed here.

The camp, as Muhumuza explained, helps to cut the cost of treatment abroad which many patients cannot afford as well as create training opportunities for Ugandan doctors.

On average, Muhumuza noted, the department of neurosurgery receives about 500 patients a year with most of conditions as a result of trauma especially from accidents.