Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 100 patients turned up for free eye surgery at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The one week camp was organized in conjunction with Eye Health Africa UK.
Dr. Jacob Ntende an Ophthalmologist at Mulago Hospital said that during the camp they focused on patients who needed cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to improve the function and appearance of the eye and its surrounding area.
He said that out of the 120 patients who were examined, they managed to operate only 21 patients. Ntende noted that the number of people who need oculoplastic eye surgery is high because of accidents and acid attacks.
Oculoplastic surgery is a specialized type of surgery that centers on the eyelids and orbit facial structures.
Dr. Ntende also noted that there is a need to recruit more Ophthalmology doctors at Mulago and at the regional referral hospitals in the country to relieve Mulago from the high number of patients from different parts of the country. He also noted that currently, the hospital has only 3 Ophthalmologists.
According to Dr. Ntende, the recent lifting of the recruitment ban by hospitals will help solve the human resource gap. He noted that the country has trained eye doctors but have not been employed.
Dr. Innocent Ayesiga from the Uganda-UK Health Alliance said that part of the activities in the annual camp included skills transfer from different eye hospitals in England to help skilled health workers give different eye care services and donations to revamp the existing structure.
He also noted that there are several people in rural areas with eye care complications who cannot access quality and professional eye treatment which resulted in the funding and set of the camp in partnership with Mulago Hospital.
Dr. Emelia Ahebwa an Ophthalmologist said that she has been privileged to get skills from other specialists and work hand in hand with surgeons from England to handle different eye conditions.
Molly Mbabazi from Kyenjojo was hit by a weighing scale on her eye. She said that Fort Portal Regional referral hospital could not handle her complication and was referred to Mulago where she has been operated on.
*********
URN
