The management of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, CHUK, says Rwanda still faces a shortage of specialist doctors capable of treating complex conditions affecting the ears, nose and throat, commonly known as ENT.
The shortage means that foreign specialists are still needed to come to Rwanda and provide treatment to patients requiring specialized medical care and surgery.
On Wednesday, a team of specialist doctors from Europe was at CHUK, treating and operating on patients suffering from various ENT conditions.
Among the patients was a child of Beatha Nsingizimana, a resident of Muhanga District. Her child had previously suffered from an ear infection that caused pus to discharge from the ears.
Although medication helped stop the discharge, the child later developed hearing difficulties. The child was eventually brought to CHUK, where the visiting specialists performed surgery.
“My child used to have a problem with the ears, and pus would come out. After receiving medication, the pus stopped, but the child later started having difficulties hearing. Now that the child has undergone surgery, I am hopeful that the problem has been resolved completely and that we will no longer have to move from one place to another looking for treatment.”
Pastor Osee Ntavuka, a Rwandan living in the United Kingdom, says the initiative was inspired by his desire to give back to his country and help people access specialized medical care.
“I had the idea of doing something for my country. That is why I encourage specialist doctors to come to Rwanda and help patients who need this kind of treatment, so that they can have better health and a better quality of life.”
One of the visiting specialists is Professor Saeed, a consultant ENT surgeon in the United Kingdom. He says diseases affecting the ears, nose and throat are found in Rwanda as well as in other parts of the world.
“In Rwanda, as in other countries around the world, there are diseases that continue to affect people. We see infections affecting the ears and other parts of the ENT system, and if they are not treated properly, they can cause serious complications, including hearing problems.”
Professor Saeed says the main difference is that the United Kingdom has specialized systems dedicated to treating children with such conditions.
“In the United Kingdom, there is a specialized system in place to treat children with these kinds of problems. We believe that by working together and bringing our expertise to Rwanda, we can help more children receive the treatment they need.”
Currently, specialist doctors are working in 12 hospitals across Rwanda, providing treatment and surgery for diseases affecting the ears, nose and throat.
The Deputy Director General in charge of Medical Services and Patients’ Rights at CHUK says there is still a significant gap in the number of specialists available to treat complicated ENT conditions.
“There is still a shortage of specialist doctors who can treat complex diseases affecting the ears, nose and throat. This is why we need specialists from abroad to come and support us in treating patients who require this level of specialized care.”
For this particular medical mission, around 50 patients suffering from conditions affecting the throat, ears and nose are expected to undergo surgery.
The initiative dates back to 2011, when Pastor Osee Ntavuka began bringing specialist doctors from abroad to Rwanda to treat patients suffering from serious medical conditions.
Since then, more than 9,000 patientshave reportedly received treatment through the initiative.
The visiting specialists have also donated various medical equipment to health facilities in Rwanda. Overall, the medical support and advocacy provided through the initiative is estimated to be worth more than three billion Rwandan francs.
The specialized medical missions are expected to continue, with foreign specialists working in partnership with the Ministry of Health to strengthen access to advanced medical services in Rwanda.
For patients suffering from complex ENT conditions, the continued collaboration is expected to provide access to specialized treatment while also helping strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to manage such diseases locally.
NTAMBARA Garleon
RADIOTV 10