Mulago Hospital Gets New Neurosurgical Theater

Although the hospital is most of the times making the news about its sorry state, this one is a relief. On Thursday, Uganda’s national referral hospital Mulago unveiled a new neurosurgical theater.

Uganda’s minister of health Dr. Christine Ondoa, opened the theatre in the hospital’s general Theatre (1B).

An excited Ondoa said “My heart is very glad with the service delivery here despite so many challenges in the health sector,”

She added that government was committed to supplying essential medicine and equipment to supplement on those provided.

“Under a World Bank project we are going to purchase more equipment. We shall renovate the hospital and we are also planning to build modern flats for health workers around the hospital,” Dr Ondoa said

Dr. Doreen Birabwa, Mulago hospital’s deputy executive director, complained about the state of the old theatres saying that they are good but in urgent need of a face-lift.

“The new theatre is very timely since we now have the African Development Bank Loan for renovating this floor. We have to improve and handle the theatre properly,” Birabwa said

Birabwa however added that the surgeries will be free although patients will have access to the MRI and scanners   at a cost for maintenance.

The neurosurgical unit currently operates twice a week, meaning patients can wait for weeks or months before they can undergo an operation.

Those who can afford usually opt for private services, which could see them part with about Shs80 million.

With the new modern equipment, the hospital would now start performing more specialised surgeries like aneurysms, which results from swellings in the brain.