Makerere University medics in heal a heart drive

By Violet Nabatanzi & Juliet Waiswa
                                    
Makerere University Medical students have participated in a charity run dubbed the Heartstrings  to raise funds for needy children suffering from heart diseases.

The initiative is intended to at least assist three children who have heart defects that can be treated at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI).

The fourth year students of College of Health sciences have been able to raise over sh5m and they are appealing to well-wishers to support the initiative.

 The Principal of Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Prof. Charles Ibingira said that at the moment it is costly for the heart institute to carry out major heart surgeries, adding that funds collected will supplement on what UHI offers.

Ibingira said that management of heart conditions abroad was becoming costly for patients so medical students came up with the proposal to raise funds to support the patients.

"Although the Institute is able to carry out a number of heart surgeries and treatment, majority of these conditions are very costly," Ibingira said.


The Principal, Makerere University College of Health Sciences Prof. Charles Ibingira with a colleague about to flag off the Heartstring run

He said that it is still expensive for those who are treated in Uganda, adding that the UHI is overwhelmed by patients who need heart treatment because few operations can be done at a time.

Ibingira said that it is high time the hospital came up with its own initiatives instead of depending on donor funding.

The student's leader, Enock Tayewbwa said during a run which they organized in partnership with Rotaract Mulago that they intend to raise over sh6m for an open heart surgery for three children.

The initiative under the theme: Heal a Heart Save a life under the Makerere University Medical Students (MUMS) came up with the project to assist the UHI to operate upon three children who suffer heart defects.

Recently a senior consultant pediatric cardiac, Dr. Peter Lwabi said that out of every 1,000 children born 100 of these suffer from heart defects.

Lwabi explained that some of the known causes of heart problems among children are infections and German measles among others.