CURE hospital introduces Neurosurgical services to adults

Jun 07, 2013

Cure Children’s Hospital in Mbale town is traditionally known for treating children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida. However, the facility has introduced neurosurgical care to adults.

By Gladys Kalibbala 

Cure Children’s Hospital in Mbale town is traditionally known for treating children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida.  However, the facility has introduced neurosurgical care to adults.  
 
Dr. Derek Johnson, the hospital’s executive director, announced the development last Friday during the launch of a new $750,000 (about sh1.8b) Intensive Care Unit funded by USAID. 
 
“We are launching the new services for select surgical interventions for adult neurological conditions at affordable fees,” he revealed. 
 
Derek said such a move will help them generate additional revenue to enable the hospital cater for more disadvantaged and low-income children. 
 
“Most of the children we treat with hydrocephalus and spina bifida are from very poor backgrounds,” he observed. 
According to Derek, the new theatre has been equipped to provide select spinal surgeries and tumors in the brain without opening the skull. 
 
“We use an endoscopic technique through the nose which results in faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, less risks and fewer problems than the traditional approaches,” he said. 
 
The hospital was opened in January 2001, specifically to meet the needs of children with disabilities. 
Leslie Reed, the mission director for USAID Uganda, who was the chief guest, toured the hospital and urged mothers to manage their children’s conditions well after surgeries. 
 

The Executive Director CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda, Dr. Derek Johnson takes guests around the hospital last Friday during the launch of the new Intensive Care Unit Ward in Mbale. 

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