The prolonged LRA Civil War in Northern Uganda in early 2000s has resulted in numerous civilian survivors enduring psychological trauma and various health issues.
In response, Health Rights International has initiated a surgical and clinical camp at Lira Regional Referral Hospital to offer medical assistance to these war survivors, which includes performing 310 surgeries to be done in one week. Started on sunday, the camp will run till sunday.
“Currently, we are executing a project titled Integrated Physical and Psychological Rehabilitation for the survivors of the LRA conflict in Northern Uganda.” Emmanuel Oboi, Project Coordinator at Health Rights International stressed out.
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Supported by the Trust Fund for Victims, the camp follows a comprehensive pre-camp assessment where a team of specialists examined over 1,000 individuals in the surrounding areas, including Agweng, Aromo, Ogur, and Alito.
“During our outreach to the community, we identified 1,146 individuals who were examined by a surgeon and received medication. Out of these, 310 were determined to require immediate surgical intervention, and they have been brought here for their operations. Additionally, there are 192 others who need specialized assessments to ascertain the necessary medical treatments,” explained Emmanuel Oboi, Project Coordinator at Health Rights International.
Geoffrey Okullo Obong, a medical officer at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, emphasized the diverse range of conditions being treated, including hydras lymphomas and the extraction of foreign objects such as bullets.
“Some patients have sustained permanent damage, particularly to their spines, due to heavy loads. In some cases, the spine is not straight but rather bent or depressed, leading to significant pain and suffering,” stated Okullo Obong.
The camp also aims to facilitate skills transfer, allowing younger doctors and local healthcare workers to gain valuable experience in managing complex surgical cases.
“We are enhancing their capabilities to address various medical challenges, as we have observed that our surgical interventions often lead to improved outcomes.” says Okullo Obong.
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