NAPAK- KARAMOJA
St. Kizito Matany Hospital has successfully hosted its first-ever paediatric surgical camp, a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with Doctors on Mission, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Bethany Kids, and Amigos Internationales. The week-long camp drew excitement and gratitude from both the medical community and local residents, marking a milestone in specialized healthcare delivery for the region.
St Kizito Hospital Matany, clinical head Dr. John Sembusi welcomed the visiting team of health workers, emphasizing the invaluable learning opportunity for intern doctors who gained hands-on experience under the guidance of senior surgeons from Mbarara university of science and technology.
Hospital CEO Brother Gunta acknowledged the uncertainty of hosting a first camp but assured that more camps would be organized if demand proved overwhelming. He stressed the importance of practical, hands-on medical services for children in need of life-changing operations.
From Bethany Kids, administrator Besigye Ambrose highlighted their contribution of 50 wheelchairs to children with mobility challenges. He noted that their role is to complement existing services, citing the construction of a paediatric surgical unit at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital as a key achievement.
Patrick Kibwota, director of operations at Amigos Internationales, thanked Matany Hospital for opening its doors. He recalled how Amigos began as a small dental camp and has since expanded to attract medical teams from across Uganda.
Representing Mbarara University surgery department, Orthopedic surgeon and team leader Dr. Kisitu commended the volunteers for traveling long distances to reach Napak, stressing that the camp aimed to fill gaps where local doctors had not yet reached, ensuring vulnerable patients received specialized care.
“I have read your Motto as We treat wounds and Jesus heals them but for us surgeons,we create wounds but Jesus heals them “
Over five days, the camp delivered care to thousands:Children Outpatients: 112, Adult Outpatients: 1,321, Dental Patients: 12 children, 105 adults while Eye Clinic saw 50 children and 379 adults, making a total of 174 children and 1,979 adults.
Beyond treatment, the camp provided mobility support to 46 individuals, including: 22 wheelchairs (standard and intermediate), 3 walking aids, 6 prosthetic referrals and 15 therapy interventions.
Reflecting on the realities of care delivery, Dr. Sembusi highlighted the urgent need for outreach initiatives in Karamoja:
High disease burden with limited specialized staff, 75% of care supported by donors and partners, Limited access to referrals due to transport challenges among others.
The camp not only delivered life-changing surgeries and specialized care but also restored hope and strengthened community resilience. As Dr. Mulyamboga noted, this mission was about more than treatment, it was about empowering independence and ensuring no one is left behind.
At the closure of the camp, Dr. Paul Mulyamboga, medical director at Amigos Internationales and founder of Doctors on Mission, expressed gratitude to all partners and volunteers for dedicating nearly a full week to service. He noted that the camp featured two parallel activities: a paediatric surgical camp and a general medical camp.
While celebrating the success, he also highlighted challenges though he noted that they use them as opportunities to learn, such as limited anaesthesia machines and insufficient logistics, urging the Ministry of Health and government to consider funding mobile surgical clinics to meet the dire need for surgeries in underserved regions.
