Dr. Diana Atwiine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, has reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals, enabling them to perform more surgeries within the country.
Atwiine emphasized that this initiative aims to reduce the need for citizens to seek surgeries abroad, ultimately strengthening the healthcare system locally.
“It’s our responsibility as a nation to offer these services to the population. This marks a significant transformation point where we envision fulfilling our mandate in the future,” explained Atwiine.
These statements were conveyed by Atwiine through Dr. Bahatungire Rony, the Acting Commissioner of Clinical Services, during the discharge of a kidney transplant patient at Mulago Hospital, Kampala.
The historic organ transplant, conducted on December 20, involved the patient, Kiyemba Mark Maurice, and was led by Professor Frank Asiimwe and a team of surgeons, collaborating with visiting doctors from Yashoda Hospitals in India.
Uganda, with a kidney disease prevalence rate of 13% among its population, is actively addressing the challenges associated with organ transplants.
Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, the Acting Executive Director of Mulago Hospital, acknowledged the current limitations but assured ongoing efforts to enhance their capabilities and increase the number of such operations.
Dr. Frank Asiimwe, leading the surgical team, celebrated the milestone, foreseeing a regular transplant program. He emphasized the goal of conducting organ transplants on Ugandans by Ugandans within the country.
Dr. Peace Bagasha reported that the kidney transplant recipient, Kiyemba Mark Maurice, experienced no severe complications, and his recovery is progressing well.
She highlighted the importance of the patient’s good health, anticipating a complete recovery within a year.
As Uganda grapples with a rise in non-communicable diseases, health experts underscore the need for proactive measures, with hypertension, diabetes, and cancers affecting a considerable percentage of the population.