Uganda - Campaign to End Fistula

9hence would never qualify for subsidy or exemption. Each hospital has two seniorconsultant gynaecologists.5.3 Nsambya Catholic Missionary HospitalLike the other two hospitals, Nsambya had no patients in the wards or at the outpatientclinics. However, early this year the hospital started what is known as the “VVF Week”.The first VVF week attracted 13 cases all of which were repaired and only 2 failed toheal. The VVF Week is a joint effort by Nsambya hospital and a visiting surgeon Dr.Brian Hankook from the U.K., to offer free treatment to VVF patients. The hospitaloffers free bed space and the surgeon brings equipment and drugs and also performs thesurgery free of charge. On average it costed about 300,000/= per patient (equivalent toUS$200) and provided hands-on training on VVF repair to two gynaecologists atNsambya hospital.On average very few patients can afford this fee let alone VVF patients who are normallyvery poor and unemployed.RecommendationFor paying hospitals, a special fund for VVF patients should be created to offset theexpenses incurred in their treatment, if possible, including the surgeon’s fees wherethere are no volunteers.Population served by Mulago, Mengo, Rubaga and Nsambya Hospitals by districtDistrict Males Females TotalKampala 593,802 625,749 1,219,551Kalangala 20,625 13,851 34,476Kiboga 118,380 112,851 231,231Luwero 235,942 243,980 279,922Mpigi 208,524 206,005 414,529Mubende 350,774 346,159 696,933Mukono 389,439 398,893 788,332Wakiso 449,455 464,656 914,111Kayunga 144,113 151,981 296,094Nakasongola 64,655 63,471 128,126Total 2,575,709 2,627,596 5,203,305Uganda Population and Housing Census – Preliminary Report 20025.4 Kitovu Catholic Missionary HospitalThis is a hospital doing commendable work in fistula treatment. Visiting VVF surgeonsled by Dr. Brian Hankook come periodically to the hospital and conduct VVF repair onpatients free of charge. Because of their good reputation, at the last VVF weekconducted between 24 th February and 7 th March 2003 a total of 60 patients reported with