Over 1,400 operated in 4-day Lango surgical camp

Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Over 1,400 patients were operated on in the just concluded surgical camp conducted by the Association of Surgeons of Uganda (ASOU) in the Lango sub-region. The team of 250 surgeons that arrived on September 10th, offered free surgical services to people with different conditions such as enlarged prostrates, hernia, breast lamps, goiter, and gallstones among others.

Spread across 12 medical facilities mostly HC IVs, hospitals, and a regional referral hospital, the surgeons were able to operate on 1,407 patients in the first four days of the camp. They reviewed patients on September 5th, 2023, and concluded with a Registrar’s Symposium the following day.

Dr. Frank R. Asiimwe, the ASOU President, said this is the highest number of surgeries done during a surgical camp in the history of the association.

Dr. Asiimwe emphasized the importance of setting up a skills lab for simulation, saying the association already has the space but lacks the equipment to operationalize the lab.

Despite the huge number operated on, Dr. Jane Aceng Ocero, the Minister of Health who doubles as the Lira City Woman MP explained that not everyone could be operated on due to limited time and resources. Data shows that over 2500 patients were checked out.

Some locals argue that the surgeons should come back to work in Lango on the grounds that the number of days was too few and that many people did not receive the services.

In his response, Dr. Ekwaro Obuko, a member of ASOU explained that the association may return to Lango because the demand for surgery is too high that the team could not handle it due to limited resources. Adding that those who were lucky to be operated on encouraged the team to keep going.

The Association of Surgeons of Uganda is a body that brings together over 400 qualified surgeons and those in training to advance surgical healthcare in Uganda. Every year, the association goes to a particular region to offer their services.

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