Since Sunday, 23rd February, the UHI team has been in Lira, performing Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) closure procedures. After a thorough screening process, five of the eight screened patients underwent surgery, all of whom are now in stable recovery. The three remaining patients, whose conditions require more complex interventions, will receive surgery at UHI in Mulago at no cost.
This marks the fourth Closed Heart Surgery Camp held at a regional referral hospital as part of UHI’s efforts to decentralize cardiac services. Similar camps have previously taken place at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (October 2023 and October 2024) and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (June 2024). The initiative is designed to bridge the gap in access to specialized care, ensuring that more Ugandans can benefit from critical cardiac interventions without having to travel long distances to Kampala.
Cardiovascular Disease Burden
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a significant public health challenge in Uganda, accounting for over 10% of all deaths. Like many developing nations, Uganda faces an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with congenital heart defects, rheumatic heart disease, and hypertension leading the statistics. Approximately 16,000 children in Uganda are born with congenital heart defects each year, emphasizing the urgent need for increased access to specialized heart care.
PDA is a congenital heart defect in which a connection between the two blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart fails to close after birth. If left untreated, it can lead to complications such as heart failure, recurrent respiratory infections, and delayed growth. The successful completion of these procedures at Lira RRH highlights UHI’s commitment to addressing this critical health challenge.
Expanding Cardiac Care Infrastructure
The need for specialized cardiac services continues to grow, yet regional hospitals remain constrained by a lack of human resources and essential medical infrastructure. The absence of specialized resident professionals, such as cardiologists and cardiac anesthesiologists, as well as limited equipment, restricts the number of cases that can be managed at these regional hospitals.
Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, secured a USD 70 million loan to construct a state-of-the-art 250-bed capacity cardiac hospital in Naguru. The groundbreaking ceremony for this long-awaited facility was recently held, and construction is now underway, with completion expected within the next two years. This hospital will significantly enhance the country’s ability to manage heart diseases and improve access to quality cardiac services.
Decentralization and Capacity Building
The success of the Lira surgical heart camp reflects UHI’s broader vision of strengthening regional health systems and improving access to specialized care. By bringing these services closer to the people, UHI is reducing the financial, social, and logistical burdens associated with seeking treatment in Kampala. The initiative also provides an opportunity for knowledge-sharing and skills transfer between UHI specialists and regional healthcare professionals, further strengthening the country’s overall healthcare system.
While PDA closure is a closed-heart procedure requiring minimal infrastructure compared to open-heart surgery, continued investment in regional healthcare facilities is crucial to sustain these efforts. UHI remains committed to equipping regional referral hospitals with the necessary training and resources to ensure more Ugandans receive timely and life-saving cardiac interventions.
As part of its ongoing outreach strategy, UHI has planned an additional surgical camp this financial year 2024/2025 to further expand access to cardiac care.
