Two of the three theaters fully equipped by the government underwent a test run by medical experts from the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) last week. The center officially opened its theater doors on Monday with an ongoing one-week free Head and Neck Surgical camp for cancer patients.
The Northern Regional Cancer Center
in Gulu City has officially opened its state-of-the-art theaters to conduct delicate
surgeries on cancer Patients in the region.
Two of the three theaters fully equipped
by the government underwent a test run by medical experts from the Uganda
Cancer Institute (UCI) last week. The center officially opened its theater
doors on Monday with an ongoing one-week free Head and Neck Surgical camp for cancer
patients.
Dr. Jeff Otiti, the Head of the Surgical
Division at UCI told journalists on Tuesday that five patients with cases of
gynecology and urology underwent operations last week as the theater was being
test run for functionality.
Dr. Otiti says this week, UCI in
partnership with expert surgeons from the United States of America extended a free
surgical camp for Head and Neck cancer surgeries which were mainly conducted in
Kampala to the region with vulnerable patients.
He notes that while cancer cases
are widespread, head and neck cancers are common with most caused by risk factors
such as smoking tobacco and excessive drinking of alcohol.
The common types of neck and head
cancer that are a growing concern in the region according to Dr. Otiti are cancer
of the thyroid, larynx, mouth, throat, and the feeding passage.
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Dr. Otiti emphasized early
screening by people with risk factors of smoking and drinking alcohol to avoid
late detection which may sometimes be complicated to treat.
Head and neck cancer presents
with symptoms of a lump in the mouth and neck, unending bleeding, sore throat, and
hoarseness or voice changes among others.
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Dr Ivan Latim, the in-charge of
Northern Regional Cancer Center said a total of 13 cancer patients had by Monday
registered for the neck and head surgical camp from within and outside the
region. He says out of the 13 patients, two had scalp cancer, one case of
thyroid, and the majority had cancer of the salivary gland.
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Isaac Kibet, the charge of the Cancer
Center notes that while the surgical camp is free, it would have cost the
patients between 18 million shillings to 20 million shillings in private
facilities to get similar services.
He says out of the three state-of-the-art
theaters, only two are currently being used for surgeries.
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Dr. Chad Zender, an Ear, Nose, and
Throat surgeon from Cincinnati University says the same medical procedure being
offered to the patients costs between US Dollars 50,000 and 100,000 in health
facilities abroad. He says the medical procedure is a lifesaving opportunity
for patients in the region who are unable to afford such exorbitant medical
expenses.
The 7.5 million Euros
(approximately 30 billion shillings) Regional Cancer Center partially began outpatient
department operations in August and has since been receiving volumes of cancer patients
visiting according to officials.
Dr. Ivan Latim notes the Center
In-charge notes that a total of 126 patients have so far visited the center
since it partially opened its doors. 62 patients out of 126 patients were newly
diagnosed while the rest were in the care in Kampala but couldn’t afford to
continue due to financial constraints.
Dr. Latim says the common cancer
cases registered in the three months since the center opened its doors are
cancer of the cervix which constitutes half of the cases, while the rest are
cancer of the breast and cancer of the prostate.
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The first phase of the cancer center
has so far been equipped with state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) scans,
Mammogram for breast cancer checks, ultrasound scans, and an x-ray scanner. The
government expects to equip the facility with a Radiotherapy bunker in the second
phase of construction works.
Cancer remains a burden in the
country’s health sector with 2022 statistics from UCI indicating an estimated
33,000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually but only about 7,400 make it
for care. The data however shows a worrying figure that 21,300 people are lost
to the disease every year.
