By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda is intensifying its campaign to provide life-saving neurosurgery for children battling hydrocephalus and spina bifida, launching a major fundraising drive with a target of Shs1 Billion. The hospital, located in Mbale City, is the frontline in Uganda’s battle against these devastating birth conditions.
According to recent statistics, over 6,000 babies are born each year in Uganda with hydrocephalus. The sheer scale of the need is overwhelming: in a single year (2014), CURE admitted 2,166 patients who would have collectively required a staggering Shs17 billion for surgery if the care weren’t provided for free.
“This significant public health challenge is being met head-on by CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda,” said Madam Petra Osele, the hospital’s Programs Operational Manager. CURE offers free, life-saving neurosurgery to over 200 children admitted annually.
To meet the Shs1 billion goal and sustain this vital work, CURE is calling for urgent support from sponsors and partners. The centerpiece of this drive is the 9th CURE Brain Surgery Run, scheduled for October 18th.
“We’re trying to gather as many people as possible to join us in trying to raise support and awareness, especially support towards the treatment for children who are suffering from hydrocephalus and spina bifida,” stated Dr. Emmanuel Okello, a lead surgeon at CURE.
Dr. Okello emphasized the financial burden of treatment, noting that “the surgeries are usually very expensive, but they are made possible by the generous contribution of people like you who come around and join us in the fight to make these children better.”
Hydrocephalus, meaning “water in the brain,” is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid that causes immense pressure on a child’s brain. Dr. Okello explained that while some cases are congenital, the majority CURE sees (over 70%) are a result of a prior infection acquired shortly after birth.
The hospital is also a crucial center for treating spina bifida, a condition where the bones of the spine fail to fuse properly, allowing the spinal cord to protrude through a gap, often seen as a swelling on the lower back. This results in severe consequences, including issues with bladder and bowel control and lower limb deformities.
Dr. Okello noted that unhygienic birthing practices, particularly when children are born at home or with traditional birth attendants, predispose infants to early infections that damage the brain’s water absorption structures.
“The way the midwife cuts the cord… and also a couple of our babies are still born from home,” he observed. In response, CURE is actively conducting community outreaches to educate health workers and birth attendants on hygienic practices to prevent these infections.
