Over 2,000 Ugandans mainly children have been diagnosed with heart defects and are awaiting any opportunity for surgery.
Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) Mulago, Director, Dr. John Omagino said that the Institute was overwhelmed with the growing number of heart patients, resulting in some of them, dying of treatable complications.
He was speaking during a press conference organised by the Rotary Club of Kampala North and the Rotary Club of Kajjansi together with a team of surgeons from the US.
The team started carrying out operations on heart patients at the Mulago Heart Institute.
The one-week operation will benefit 10 patients who are on the list of those awaiting surgery.
“The visiting surgeons are working on two children per day to ensure conclusive monitoring and attention to each before leaving the operating room,” Dr. Omagino said.
“These benefactors (10 children) are lucky to undergo free open Heart surgery which would cost them sh50m each, but the doctors are making it possible at a reduced fee of sh6.5m.” he said.
Most of the beneficiaries he said comprise those from rural areas and the urban poor to whom medical services are lacking or very poor.
Dr. Peter Lwabi said: “Statistics have it that, out of every 2,500 children born in a year in Uganda, 600 have defects on their hearts and 300 need this kind of openheart surgery.
The Rotary Clubs of Kampala North and Kajjansi are reinforcing Rotary’s motto, service above self which holds the humanitarian spirit at all times. With this background, they believe that being part of saving the lives of four (4) children will make a difference in the community in which Rotary operates.
Dr.John Omagino, the Director of Uganda Heart Institute in Mulago hospital applauded the Rotary Clubs of Kampala North and Kajjansi for always looking out for the needs of the communities and urged more partners to come on board because a large number of heart patients die every year from treatable complications.
“We received significant financial support from MOGAS worth $10,000,” Dr. Mark Turrentine, a paediatric cardiac surgeon from Riley Children’s Hospital, said.
“Our aim is to operate 200 children per year and to be fully funded by the Uganda Government and corporations by 2014,” Turrentine said.
