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Uganda is a developing country that has a population of about 46 million people (UBOs Census, 2024) majority of whom are children. With a population growth of about 3 %, it is estimated that 1.3 million children are born annually. About 1% of these (16,000) are born with heart diseases and studies done in Uganda showed that Ventricular Septal defects (VSDs) comprise the majority (27%) of these congenital heart diseases, currently there is a huge backlog of unoperated children which increases the morbidity and mortality due to heart diseases.
Whereas, the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) offers corrective cardiac catheterization services (including closure of holes like patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defects) in its catheterization laboratory (Cath Lab), its scope is still is still limited by the lack of skills to close VSDs to supplement the existing open heart surgery program.
A visiting professor of paediatric cardiology will volunteer to carry out surgeries on children with VSDs, and train and mentor Uganda cardiologists and medical workers in performing VSD closures in the Cath Lab.
Impact:
1. By treating some of these children in Cath lab UHI shall reduce the morbidity and mortality related to VSDs which comprise majority of the congenital heart diseases.
2. The local team will be empowered /trained to treat these defects independently.
Project Goal:
To reduce the burden of VSDs among Ugandan children with congenital heart disease.
Objectives:
1. To promote the reduction of non-communicable diseases by treating children with congenital heart disease by performing transcatheter VSD device closure.
2. To improve the capacity of the Ugandan health care professionals by mentoring Ugandan cardiologists to perform VSD closures using transcatheter VSD Device closure
3. To benchmark on the Heart -to -heart program carried out in Egypt to strengthen the cardiac health care system in Uganda.
Activities:
1. Discussion with visiting team/ cardiologist about the selection criteria of children with VCD.
2. Registration of visiting cardiologists by the local council (UMDPC)
3. Screening of children with VSDs by Local team
4. Preparation of children for Cardiac Catheterization
5. Receiving the visiting team- (Airport pick up, Accommodation, meals, Ground transport, Tour)
6. Carrying out Cardiac catheterization
7. Meeting with UHI administration
8. Meeting with MOH officials
9. Meeting with local Rotarians
Project beneficiaries
1. 45 children with congenital heart diseases from various parts of Uganda.
2. 10 medical workers at the UHI, Mulago, who will be empowered and trained to undertake device closure of ventricular septal defects (VSD)
Budget Estimates: The total Budget in USD is 49349. This is mainly to cater for the Knor MFO equipment (USD 33000), Air ticket and subsistence for the consultant Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon (USD 2,000), mentorship (USd5000), travel and subsistence for patients and their caregivers (9349)
Financing Plan: The RC Entebbe has earmarked USD 3,000 and hopes to get USD 46349 as donations from other partners (other Rotary clubs, Rotary District Designated Funds The Rotary Foundation, Gift of Life, etc)
Contact Information: President Rotary Club of Entebbe, Rtn Andrew Ochan Ocan ochanpalouno@hotmail.com ; Tel +256 772464934
Chair, Service Projects Rtn Leah Kisaalu Ndiwalana kisaalu@gmail.com; Tel: +256782810028
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