At least 4,000 Ugandans suffering from hernias are expected to benefit from a new Shs1.5 billion health initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable surgical treatment and reducing the growing backlog of untreated cases in Eastern and Central Uganda.
The project was launched on Wednesday at Kamuli Mission Hospital by the Rotary Club of Jinja and its partners. It seeks to strengthen surgical capacity through the establishment of five specialised centres, the provision of modern medical equipment, and training for healthcare workers.
Funded through The Rotary Foundation in partnership with the Rotary Club of Sidmouth in the United Kingdom and Hernia International, the initiative will support Kamuli Mission Hospital, Kyabirwa Surgical Center in Jinja City, St Francis Health Centre IV in Njeru, Herona Community Hospital in Kisoga, Mukono District, and Holy Cross Hospital in Kikyusa, Luweero District.
Health officials said untreated inguinal hernias continue to pose a major challenge in many rural communities, where the high cost of treatment often forces patients to delay seeking medical care, leading to prolonged pain, reduced productivity and financial hardship for households.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Gavin Mukalazi of Herona Community Hospital said the cost of commercial surgical mesh has remained a major barrier to modern hernia repair procedures.
“Many facilities currently lack access to affordable mesh. Commercially available meshes are prohibitively expensive for most patients in our communities, forcing many centres to perform traditional suture-only repairs,” he said.
He noted that the project's focus on local production of low-cost surgical mesh would help hospitals increase access to mesh-based repairs, which are associated with lower recurrence rates than conventional methods.
Under the initiative, participating health facilities will receive surgical instruments, sterilisation equipment, autoclaves and water distillers to enhance their ability to provide safe and effective surgical care.
Anna Turumanya Kalumuna, executive director of Kyabirwa Surgical Center, said hernia cases make up a substantial proportion of surgical demand in the Busoga sub-region.
“Hernia procedures account for nearly 80 percent of surgical needs in the region. By enabling us to perform more mesh hernia repairs locally and at lower cost, we are reducing the backlog of untreated cases while building long-term self-reliance,” she said.
The programme also includes specialised training for surgeons, nurses and biomedical engineers to ensure the sustainability of the equipment and services introduced under the grant.
Dr. Faustine Maiso of Kamuli Mission Hospital said the partnership would improve patient safety and strengthen the quality of surgical care offered at participating facilities.
Kamuli District LC5 Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala welcomed the initiative and encouraged residents to utilise the upgraded health services.
Project implementers said the long-term objective is to establish a sustainable model for affordable hernia treatment while building the capacity of regional health facilities to continue providing quality surgical services beyond the lifespan of the grant.