Mulago Neurosurgical Camp Treats 41 Patients in Six Days

The free two-week camp is targeting 100 beneficiaries and is prioritising patients who have endured prolonged waits for specialised brain, spine and nerve surgery.

Forty-one patients have undergone neurosurgical procedures at Mulago National Referral Hospital in the first six days of a two-week camp aimed at reducing the backlog of patients awaiting specialised surgery.

The free camp, which runs until August 21, is targeting 100 patients, meaning 59 more beneficiaries are expected to undergo surgery before its conclusion.

Mulago said the patients treated so far have received life-changing procedures at no cost.

The camp is prioritising elective cases, particularly patients who have spent long periods waiting for access to theatre services.

A multidisciplinary team of nine neurosurgeons is treating both adults and children with conditions affecting the brain, spine and nervous system.

The conditions being managed include brain tumours, spinal disorders, trauma-related injuries and hydrocephalus, a condition caused by the accumulation of excess fluid in the brain.

Mulago said the initiative is intended to reduce the surgical backlog while improving patients’ quality of life by treating conditions associated with severe pain, impaired movement and other neurological complications.

The hospital said the procedures are helping improve mobility and cognitive function while reducing pain and easing the financial burden families face when seeking specialised treatment in private facilities.

The team is using advanced equipment, including a surgical microscope, to improve precision during complex operations.

The microscope provides high magnification of the operating field, enabling surgeons to better visualise delicate structures around the brain, spine and nerves while carrying out procedures.

The equipment is particularly useful when treating tumours and other conditions located close to critical neurological structures.

The camp comes amid longstanding challenges in accessing neurosurgical services in Uganda, where shortages of specialised personnel and equipment have contributed to limited capacity for brain and spinal surgery.

Mulago has previously hosted neurosurgical camps involving local and international specialists, with the programmes providing treatment while also supporting skills development among Ugandan medical teams.

For patients unable to afford private neurosurgical care, the free procedures provide an alternative to treatment that can come with significant financial costs.

With 41 patients treated so far, the camp has reached 41 per cent of its target of 100 beneficiaries.

Mulago said it hopes to complete the remaining procedures before the August 21 deadline, with the broader goal of helping patients regain mobility, reduce pain and improve cognitive function.

“Forty-one treated. 100 targeted. Lives being transformed,” the hospital said.