By Kitts D.Mabonga
KAMPALA
Authorities at the Mulago National referral hospital complex got shocked when over 1,000 patients stormed the facility on day one seeking urgent medical services.
At exactly 6:00 o clock in morning several patients were in queue as they waited for the medical team to arrive.
The overwhelming numbers of patients were attributed to lack of resources by many people to access specialized medical services which are costly.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/surgical-camp-7-1024x729.jpg)
The one week surgical camp is organized by Mulago Hospital to give free medical services to people, especially to those thousands of critically ill patients out in the community who cannot afford specialized medical services.
The camp started Monday October 2, 2023 and will end on October 6, 20323 at the assessment center parking spaces Mulago.
Among the services rendered to the theme were Neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology/eye, plastic and reconstructive surgery, Eye Nose and Throat ([ENT), Oral Maxillofacial, dental, Urology.
Others are Colorectal/GIT, breast and endocrine, nutrition, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, cardiothoracic, accident and emergency. Pediatric surgery among other conditions
Speaking to the media, Rosemary Byanyima, the executive director Mulago Hospital said they were overwhelmed by the huge numbers of patients but as the hospital, we are ready and fully equipped to handle all types of medical conditions using new medical technologies.
‘We are delighted and overwhelmed to see that over 1,000 patients have turned up on day one of our week long surgical medical camp ,we assure the public that the hospital has the capacity to handle all medical conditions ranging from carrying out free specialized surgical operations on those identified to be in that condition seeking operation’ noted Byanyima.
She noted that they have assembled specialist consultant medics who are on standby to handle all complex patients’ conditions within this time frame and we do expect to carry out hundreds of such sophisticated surgical operations by the close of the week.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/surgical-camp-1-1024x797.jpg)
The acting deputy executive director of the complex Dr.John Sekabira also a senior consultant pediatrician said by midday yesterday over 772 patients had been observed by their specialist doctors but majority of them visited the bones clinic with reason being that accidents have escalated the problem.
“We are overwhelmed by the huge numbers of patients visiting our bones or orthopedics clinic who are largely accident victims who lost their limbs and other sensitive bodily parts as a result of the rampant cases of road accidents,” noted the senior doctor.
Sekabira further observed that both the ear nose and throat [ENT] clinic and eye clinics with visual challenges also constituted a big group as well as the children who have breathing difficulties which affects their body respiratory systems.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/surgical-camp-5-1024x683.jpg)
The head of surgical department Dr. Nobert Orwotho, also an orthopedic consultant, noted that the other large cases of visitors included those with challenges ranging from spine, trauma, bones fixing, joint, and hip and knee replacement.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/surgical-camp-4-1024x587.jpg)
He also attributed the increasing cases of road accidents which continue claiming hundreds of lives on a daily basis as well as bigger numbers suffering permanent disability challenges due to accidents either brought about by the largely narrow roads infrastructure or boda boda cyclists who clandestinely abuse the road safety regulations.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/surgical-camp-3-1024x648.jpg)
We bring you the pictorial of what happened at the camp
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