GOOD NEWS! Lango Celebrates As Uganda Heart Institute Conducts A life Saving Surgery In Lira

By Jimmy  Olot

Lira City, Uganda: A group of specialized doctors from the Uganda Heart Institute and Lira Regional Referral Hospital have conducted free closed heart surgeries for children in the Lango sub-region.

During a three-day free medical camp at the hospital, five children received this important treatment.

 At a press conference in Lira City, Dr. Peter Lwabi, the Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, said that all the five patients who underwent the first closed heart surgery at Lira Regional Referral Hospital are doing well and are in stable condition.

Dr. Lwabi expressed his gratitude to the 4parents for bringing their children in for treatment and reassured the people of Lango about ongoing support and collaboration to enhance healthcare in the area.

He credited the success of the camp to the efforts of Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, praising her leadership in the health sector.

Additionally, Dr. Lwabi shared plans to establish a regional Heart Center in Lango. 

"Today, we are conducting this camp, but with the Minister's help, we will create a heart institute center right here in Lira. Lira University has donated land to build a fully operational heart institute regional center to serve the Lango community," he said.

This heart surgery camp in Lango marks the fourth initiative organized by the Uganda Heart Institute countrywide, according to an official from the institute.

This development has brought joy to families who previously struggled to afford treatment for their children with heart issues. 

Reben Oleka, a resident of Agali in Erute South, is one of those who shared positive experiences from this medical camp.

“I brought my child here when she was struggling to breathe because of heart issues, but now I’m really happy because there are many improvements after the surgery, " he told the medical team.

Many people are currently facing heart problems, In her speech, Dr. Aceng, a medical doctor and a woman MP for Lira City, warned against unhealthy lifestyles and encouraged the community to get regular medical check-ups.

Minister Aceng expressed her gratitude to the medical staff from the Uganda Heart Institute for their commitment to helping the people of Lango.

She specifically thanked the deputy ED of the Uganda Heart Institute for leading the team that did an amazing job saving the lives of innocent children whose families couldn’t access healthcare services from distant facilities in Kampala and abroad.

She wished the patients a smooth and speedy recovery.

The hardworking Aceng assured the people of Lira City and Lango about the upcoming establishment of a regional heart institute and cancer center.

She also thanked Lira University for its support in enhancing health services by donating 20 hectares of land for the expansion of Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

The cost of heart surgery in Uganda 

The cost of heart surgery in Uganda varies depending on the type of surgery and can range from $8,955 to $21,983. 

Average cost of different types of heart surgery in Uganda.

Open heart surgeries – CABG: Average cost of $8,955

Single valve – AV replacement: Average cost of $17,586

Double valve replacement: Average cost of $21,983

AV/MV repair: Average cost of $13,189

Aortopulmonary window (AP window): Cost of $6,425