By Steven Enatu
SOROTI CITY
Soroti regional referral hospital is conducting a two week long paediatric surgical camp targeting children suffering from groin hernia from 1 year to 12 years.
The exercise that kicked off on the 16th July this year is part of a research study by Dr. Rev Sis Prof Mary Margret Ajiko in collaboration with Karolinska Institute in Sweden to investigate how children fare in surgical operations conducted by surgeons and medical officers.
According to Dr Rev Sis Prof Mary Margret Ajiko, the surgical camp is aimed at offering permanent cure to children suffering from hernia.
Dr Ajiko said the condition is widespread among boy children. Out of over 100 patients registered for the surgical camp, all she said were boys. In a day, the two doctors operate 20 patients. After operation, the patients are expected to return to the facility for check up after two weeks to assess the healing process.
Hernia is a defect or weakness in the abdominal wall where tissue typically from the intestines or fat can project through and cause a bulge.
“For a detailed explanation, the testis is in a man form in the abdomen, and then at the seventh month of pregnancy, these testis are supposed to descend to the scrotum, where they will remain for the rest of their life. But unfortunately for some people, when the testis descends from the abdomen to the scrotum, they leave a defect, an opening, where either only fluids from the abdomen can descend to the scrotum or even the intestines, causing what we call a hernia.”Dr Ajiko explained.
Children with hernia will always present with swelling while crying or laughing. If parents see these abnormal swellings which keep on increasing and sometimes causing obstruction, they are advised to take their children to the hospital for examination and surgery.
Dr. Ajiko said that the condition requires urgent attention and surgery before complications set in.
“So this camp, because it’s a very common problem. Many children are suffering from it, especially boys. Yes, boys. Because the girls also, the ovaries form in the abdomen, but the ovaries remain concealed in the abdomen. They don’t come out. So girls rarely, very rarely, get this problem. So, again, all these patients we are operating, they are all boys. I’ve not seen any girl among them” she said.
She cautioned parents to stay away from loose diagnoses of malaria where a child vomiting is given anti-malarial treatment without proper diagnosis or examination.
“Intestinal complications can lead to vomiting because the intestines are trapped and the parents just think it is malaria. It’s good to check your child, go to a train doctor” she emphasized.
Dr. Jenny Logfren from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden noted that the surgical camp is part of a research study that will culminate into finding the task sharing between medical officers and a general surgeon.
“We’re conducting a surgical camp at the hospital as part of a research study in collaboration with Sister Margaret and our team. The study includes funding for surgeries and follow-up care for patients. We’re currently performing surgeries, and the study is expected to begin next week. Our research aims to compare surgeries performed by surgeons and medical officers who have received training in hernia surgery for children.
While surgeons and medical officers share tasks in countries like Uganda, there is a need to investigate how children fare in this setup according to Dr.Lofgren.
“Our target population for this study is 342 patients. We plan to enroll 120 patients in Soroti, and the remaining participants will be enrolled outside of this facility. If we exceed our target here, we will adjust the numbers accordingly” she noted.
Other surgeries and studies shall be conducted in Mubende and Iganga.
“It’s rewarding to conduct research on a common condition like hernias, where surgery offers a definitive cure with minimal risk of complications and a lifelong solution. As healthcare professionals, it’s satisfying to know that our patients will experience positive outcomes and enjoy long-term health.”Dr Lofgren said.
