The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) celebrated the achievements of two outstanding experts in cancer treatment who recently received the International Award of Excellence in cancer care in South Korea.
These prestigious awards were bestowed by the Lee Jong-Wook Fellowship, administered by Yonsei University.
Dr. Martin Origa, a dedicated Gynecologist Oncologist, and Dr. Solomon Owino, a skilled biomedical engineer, were handpicked by the UCI to travel to South Korea, supported by the Korean Foundation for International Health. Their mission was to gain expertise in various facets of cancer care, ultimately benefiting patients in Uganda.
This partnership with South Korea has already borne significant fruit, with more than 40 Ugandan doctors undergoing training to enhance cancer patient management within the country.
Dr. Owino proudly recounted his experience in South Korea, where he collaborated with 12 participants from seven different countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Cambodia, and more. During his time there, he developed an innovative contactless temperature monitoring and measurement system. This technology promises to revolutionize the long-term monitoring of disease progression and therapy responses, a remarkable contribution to cancer care.
Dr. Origa’s award-winning achievement was equally groundbreaking. He designed a mobile application aimed at educating women about cervical cancer and screening. The app not only imparts knowledge but also guides women to accessible service locations. Dr. Origa emphasized that these efforts were all part of a broader mission to raise awareness about cervical cancer, a significant health challenge in Uganda.
Jackson Orem, the Executive Director of UCI, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts across various fields to bolster local capacity.
Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, the head of research and training at UCI, revealed the institute’s pressing need for highly qualified personnel due to the increasing number of cancer patients seeking care. He explained, “We have more types of equipment; we need more engineers as a department. Currently, we have three biomedical engineers, and all of them need training and equipping. We also require five more biomedical engineers.”
He also highlighted the ongoing efforts to recruit additional engineers and establish partnerships to facilitate the training of these critical personnel. Dr. Niyonzima reiterated the urgency of bolstering the fight against cervical cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer in Uganda.
To address this need, UCI initiated a training program in Gynecological oncology with the aim of increasing the number of highly qualified specialists, following in the footsteps of Dr. Origa.
Dr. Niyonzima emphasized, “At the Uganda Cancer Institute, we have started a fellowship program in gynaecological oncology for women’s cancers.” These concerted efforts underscore the institute’s dedication to improving cancer care and outcomes in Uganda.