Paediatric Laparoscopy Surgery and Training Programme Launched in Uganda

Temi:

Uganda

‘Excellence’ is at the heart of EMERGENCY’s medical care and means introducing new techniques and new technologies, to make the surgical activity of our hospitals around the world more effective.

An example is the new Paediatric Laparoscopy Surgery and Training Programme that we inaugurated in Uganda at the end of November 2024, at our Children’s Surgical Hospital.

EMERGENCY President Rossella Miccio, H.E. Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health for Uganda, and representatives from the family who donated the new laparoscopy machine cut the ribbon together to mark the beginning of the Programme and the advancement of paediatric care it represents for Uganda.

“This hospital is meant to be a landmark in terms of health services, in terms of training. Because for us, when we talk about the right to healthcare, we mean that the people of Africa deserve the same standard of care that we consider appropriate for ourselves in Europe. Today, with the commissioning of the new laparoscopic instrument, this opens new doors for children, for treatment, but also for training. To build a resilient system, we have to build local capacity.”
Rossella Miccio, EMERGENCY President

The International Standard for Minimally Invasive Surgery

More than half of Uganda’s population is under 18. Existing resources are not enough to meet the immense surgical need in the country: more than 15% of Ugandan children have an untreated surgical condition.

Traditional operations on the abdomen requires large incisions for open surgery. In contrast, laparoscopy involves thin instruments and small incisions.

The result is reduced postoperative pain, shorter recovery times and earlier hospital discharge.

“This exposure has been invaluable in advancing our abilities as local surgeons, especially in managing complex paediatric surgical cases. It has truly been a transformative experience as we continue to evolve and expand our skills to meet the needs of our young patients.”
Dr John Yiga, Ugandan surgeon at the Children’s Surgical Hospital

The Specialized Training Programme

The Laparoscopy Training Programme is an essential part of EMERGENCY’s commitment to fostering long-term sustainability by strengthening local health systems. Around 90% of colleagues at the hospital are Ugandan, like Dr. Daisy Akurete, one of the surgeons who will be using the new technology:

Operations Have Already Begun

In total, 12 laparoscopies have been performed in under three weeks. Although this is a rare paediatric surgery in Uganda, patients and their families are not required to pay: everything at the Children’s Surgical Hospital, like in all EMERGENCY projects, is completely free of charge.

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The Paediatric Laparoscopy Surgery and Training Programme was made possible thanks to the support of the Rasini family.

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Photos: Bellion Gingn