12 kids undergo heart surgery
Oct 16, 2008
THREE-DAY-OLD Jonathan Lugemwa and three-month-old Patricia Gwokyalya were among the 12 children who have successfully undergone heart surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute based at Mulago Hospital.
By Josephine Maseruka
THREE-DAY-OLD Jonathan Lugemwa and three-month-old Patricia Gwokyalya were among the 12 children who have successfully undergone heart surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute based at Mulago Hospital.
Nine children had open heart surgery and three had closed heart surgery, in the second Open Heart Surgery Camp which was held from October 6 to October 17.
The operations, according to Dr. Edward Ddumba, executive director of the hospital, were made possible through collaboration of the heart institute with the Children’s National Medical centre, based in Washington DC, the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Ddumba said Uganda had saved between sh300m and sh600m that would be spent on treating the children in India or in the US.
Lugemwa, who was of a tender age, underwent partial surgery. He will require a more complicated heart surgery when he is older.
Other children who underwent surgery include Roggers Birungi,17, Esther Kwaje,15, Kato Nsubuga, 13, Joseph Ajuna, 11, Lynette Lawino, 10, Dickson Nowamani, 5, Edwin Kimera, three-and-half years, Sam Tayebwa and Ryan Kimoni, each three years.
The 24-member team of foreign medical experts was led by Dr. Craig Sable, a cardiologist from Washington, while the 18-member local team was led by cardiologists Dr. Peter Lwabi and Dr. Sulaiman Lubega. Ddumba hailed the collaboration which has helped 25 children locally and over 100 in the US and South Africa.
Nsubuga, Kyaligonza and Kimera looked jovial and were freely moving in the ward. Dickson Nowamani, who was enjoying a slice of bread, was reserved and curdled next to his father, Nathan Mugumya.
Dr. Sable said they aim at ensuring that indigenous doctors can handle two open-heart surgeries a day.
He expressed concern that Uganda had between 2,000 and 3,000 children who urgently needed life-saving procedures, including open-heart surgery.
On the first visit, he said, his group conducted 12 operations.
Dr. John Omagino, the acting director of the Heart Institute, said the local doctors had gained experience and they had conducted three heart surgeries while the visiting team observed them.
THREE-DAY-OLD Jonathan Lugemwa and three-month-old Patricia Gwokyalya were among the 12 children who have successfully undergone heart surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute based at Mulago Hospital.
Nine children had open heart surgery and three had closed heart surgery, in the second Open Heart Surgery Camp which was held from October 6 to October 17.
The operations, according to Dr. Edward Ddumba, executive director of the hospital, were made possible through collaboration of the heart institute with the Children’s National Medical centre, based in Washington DC, the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Ddumba said Uganda had saved between sh300m and sh600m that would be spent on treating the children in India or in the US.
Lugemwa, who was of a tender age, underwent partial surgery. He will require a more complicated heart surgery when he is older.
Other children who underwent surgery include Roggers Birungi,17, Esther Kwaje,15, Kato Nsubuga, 13, Joseph Ajuna, 11, Lynette Lawino, 10, Dickson Nowamani, 5, Edwin Kimera, three-and-half years, Sam Tayebwa and Ryan Kimoni, each three years.
The 24-member team of foreign medical experts was led by Dr. Craig Sable, a cardiologist from Washington, while the 18-member local team was led by cardiologists Dr. Peter Lwabi and Dr. Sulaiman Lubega. Ddumba hailed the collaboration which has helped 25 children locally and over 100 in the US and South Africa.
Nsubuga, Kyaligonza and Kimera looked jovial and were freely moving in the ward. Dickson Nowamani, who was enjoying a slice of bread, was reserved and curdled next to his father, Nathan Mugumya.
Dr. Sable said they aim at ensuring that indigenous doctors can handle two open-heart surgeries a day.
He expressed concern that Uganda had between 2,000 and 3,000 children who urgently needed life-saving procedures, including open-heart surgery.
On the first visit, he said, his group conducted 12 operations.
Dr. John Omagino, the acting director of the Heart Institute, said the local doctors had gained experience and they had conducted three heart surgeries while the visiting team observed them.