For the last 13 years, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology has held Urogynecology camps. This year’s camp has been organized by Uganda Women’s Health Project on fistula and prolapse with support from the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation. This is in partnership with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).
The lead surgeons were Dr. Verena Geissbuhler from St. Claraspital, Basel, Switzerland, and Dr. Musa Kayondo from MUST with a focus on pelvic floor disorders mainly fistula, prolapse plus RVFs/tears during birth.
Dr. Verena Geissbuhler from St. Claraspital, Basel, Switzerland, and Dr. Musa Kayondo from MUST
Dr. Verena was quoted saying that the target women were those who could not afford the services and therefore these were treated and followed up freely. The women were informed about the camp through social media pages and radio adverts. All the women who were operated on got their transport refunded and meals were provided freely during their stay at the hospital.
Sr. Lilian had a chart with women who had come for screening.
The activity had two days of screening from 13th to 14th May 2023 and five days of surgery from 15th to 19th May 2023. A total of 80 women were screened but only 45 met the eligibility criteria and were worked on. The camp attracted women from the entire western and Southwestern Uganda. It was found out that the numbers are increasing, especially prolapse and most women do not want to talk about it. According to Dr. Verena, “Pelvic floor disorders are also going up especially due to aging”. It is not about treatment but to get a better life because most of these women are breadwinners for their homes and if they don’t work they cannot survive.
She went on to thank the team from MUST and MRRH for their dedication to this work. “You work with your heart”. It is not about money when compared to other countries. Patients were very happy because they were treated as human beings and the doctors cared about them.
Dr. Kayondo the lead from MUST said that the camp aimed at treating women with the mentioned cases and also to train fellows and postgraduate students in obstetrics and gynaecology.
