Mulago gets eye kits
Apr 08, 2009
MULAGO hospital paediatric department yesterday received equipment worth sh70m to fight childhood blindness. This follows a seven-month training of four medical workers by USAID in eye treatment, surgery and refracting.
By Juliet Waiswa and Lydia Lakwonyero
MULAGO hospital paediatric department yesterday received equipment worth sh70m to fight childhood blindness. This follows a seven-month training of four medical workers by USAID in eye treatment, surgery and refracting.
The equipment that was donated by sight savers included surgical kits, drugs and microscopes. Dr. Grace Nsibirwa, a paediatric ophthalmologist who underwent the training, said blindness among children was increasing rapidly.
“We have been running the department without enough equipment. This donation will boost our work and increase our capacity,†she said. The clinic has been running once a week with 50 children at each turn up. Nsibirwa said the clinic was now expected to open two days a week.
The commissioner for clinical services, Dr. Jacinto Amandua, said the Government was carrying out preventive services such as mass immunisation to curb diseases like measles and ensuring good sanitation to prevent diseases like trachoma.
“We now have eye specialists in all regional hospitals except Mubende and Moroto. We hope by next year, these will also be covered,†he said. Diseases which affect the eyes include cataracts, glaucoma, measles, trachoma and common cancers due to HIV/AIDS.
Amandua disclosed the Government’s plan to start a special children’s eye unit at Mulago. “We get more complicated cases so there is need for a unit that specialises in this area. Mulago is a good start and in future we will expand to other hospitals,†he said.
The country director Sight Savers International, Ben Male, said one in every 1,000 children has a serious eye disease that can cause blindness.
MULAGO hospital paediatric department yesterday received equipment worth sh70m to fight childhood blindness. This follows a seven-month training of four medical workers by USAID in eye treatment, surgery and refracting.
The equipment that was donated by sight savers included surgical kits, drugs and microscopes. Dr. Grace Nsibirwa, a paediatric ophthalmologist who underwent the training, said blindness among children was increasing rapidly.
“We have been running the department without enough equipment. This donation will boost our work and increase our capacity,†she said. The clinic has been running once a week with 50 children at each turn up. Nsibirwa said the clinic was now expected to open two days a week.
The commissioner for clinical services, Dr. Jacinto Amandua, said the Government was carrying out preventive services such as mass immunisation to curb diseases like measles and ensuring good sanitation to prevent diseases like trachoma.
“We now have eye specialists in all regional hospitals except Mubende and Moroto. We hope by next year, these will also be covered,†he said. Diseases which affect the eyes include cataracts, glaucoma, measles, trachoma and common cancers due to HIV/AIDS.
Amandua disclosed the Government’s plan to start a special children’s eye unit at Mulago. “We get more complicated cases so there is need for a unit that specialises in this area. Mulago is a good start and in future we will expand to other hospitals,†he said.
The country director Sight Savers International, Ben Male, said one in every 1,000 children has a serious eye disease that can cause blindness.