Eleven children from the Lango and Acholi subregions are set to undergo specialized pediatric heart surgery at Lira Regional Referral Hospital.
The five-day surgical camp began Monday and ends Friday, focusing on pediatric closed-heart procedures. By Tuesday evening, eight children had successfully undergone surgery.
The procedures are being carried out by senior cardiologists and pediatric cardiac surgeons from the Uganda Heart Institute, working closely with their counterparts at Lira Regional Referral Hospital.
The team is led by senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Michael Oketcho, alongside local specialists headed by Dr. Bosco Omongo Ekwan.
Dr. Andrew Odur, acting director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, said the children who have undergone surgery are recovering.
He commended the Uganda Heart Institute for extending specialized cardiac services closer to underserved communities, saying such outreach programs significantly reduce the burden on families who would otherwise travel long distances for treatment.
Odur said the heart surgery camp aligns with the hospital’s mandate to expand specialized services and that the facility will continue to engage the Uganda Heart Institute as a launchpad for stronger collaboration.
Oketcho said the children being treated, ages 1 to 8, have congenital heart defects, specifically patent ductus arteriosus.
The condition disrupts normal blood flow, sometimes causing it to move in the wrong direction, which can impair growth and overall health if left untreated.
He said congenital heart conditions may be linked to several risk factors, including the use of certain medications during pregnancy and maternal infections such as rubella and measles.
Medical experts advise parents to watch for warning signs of heart complications in children, including difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, poor feeding and recurrent chest infections.
“There may not be much someone can do, but the important thing is to recognize early,” Oketcho said.
“This begins with medical workers examining children at birth, including checking heart rate and conducting basic assessments that are easy to perform,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ekwan highlighted the long-term impact of the collaboration, saying visiting specialists have not only treated patients but also transferred critical skills to local medical staff.
“We are grateful for the mentorship and knowledge shared. In the near future, we aim to begin conducting heart surgeries independently here at Lira Regional Referral Hospital,” he said.
This marks the second pediatric heart surgery camp hosted at the facility under the Uganda Heart Institute. During a similar outreach last year, 14 children underwent life-saving procedures.
Health officials say such initiatives are a crucial step toward expanding access to specialized health care services in regional hospitals and improving outcomes for children with complex medical conditions across Uganda.
