CURE Uganda Announces New Strategic Partnership to Support Neurosurgical Training in Africa
CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda performs more hydrocephalus and spina bifida surgeries than any other hospital in the world. Expanding the regional availability of this desperately needed neurosurgical care for children has been a primary mission of the hospital for years, primarily through the CURE Neuro program.
The next chapter of the hospital’s strategic goal to expand access to paediatric neurosurgery in the region has begun: CURE Uganda entered into an agreement with the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) to provide a training rotation in paediatric neurosurgery as part of the COSECSA training program. COSECSA is an internationally-recognised organisation that fosters postgraduate education in surgery and provides surgical training throughout the East, Central, and Southern Africa region.
“We are excited to partner with CURE Hospital in training COSECSA residents. As a specialised paediatric neurosurgery hospital, CURE is uniquely positioned to add value in training residents in this paediatric neurosurgery rotation. We are looking forward to many neurosurgery residents having a rotation at CURE as we advance these efforts together!”
Dr. Joel Kiryabwire – COSECSA Uganda Country Representative
“The men and women of CURE Uganda are known around the world not only for their expertise, but their commitment to share their knowledge with others. This new partnership allows CURE Uganda to provide expanded training opportunities to future neurosurgeons who will quite literally save the lives of children.”
Justin Narducci, President and CEO of CURE International.
The CURE Uganda – COSECSA Memorandum of Understanding, which has been several years in the making, will allow the next generation of neurosurgeons from sub-Saharan Africa to learn from CURE Uganda’s skilled team while also learning in an environment that shares the hope of Jesus Christ with patients and families.
“One hospital, regardless of how capable, could never be enough to meet the overwhelming need for neurosurgery in this country and the region at large. By equipping others with the knowledge and skills to safely perform neurosurgery, CURE Uganda is multiplying its efforts and providing more children with access to specialised neurosurgical care,”
Tim Erickson, Executive Director of CURE Uganda.
CURE Uganda started the CURE Neuro program in 2011 to expand the global availability of neurosurgical care for children through training and residency opportunities. The hospital’s expert faculty, surgical, and clinical teams attract experts from around the world to CURE Uganda to learn the latest techniques. This additional partnership with COSECSA will allow even more African doctors and surgeons to come and learn how to treat neurological conditions more effectively.
“By training African doctors and surgeons, we will be able to chart a better trajectory for neurological healthcare in Uganda. I am honoured to be a part of this impactful partnership and look forward to welcoming new, local trainees to our team,”
Dr. John Mugamba, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon & Head of Training, CURE Uganda.
“Our partnership with COSESCA will allow Ugandan neurosurgery residents from Mulago National Referral Hospital and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to have greater exposure to highly specialised paediatric neurosurgical training not offered anywhere else in the country. This news means that more of the thousands of children born each year with hydrocephalus and other conditions requiring neurosurgery will get the treatment they so desperately require,”
Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye, Neurosurgeon, Medical Director of CURE Uganda.
[This article was originally published by the CURE International team on 27th January 2022]
About CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda
Established in Mbale in 2001, CURE Uganda is one of Africa’s leading paediatric hospitals for brain surgery and the treatment of neurological conditions.
It provides advanced, minimally-invasive neurosurgical treatments and attracts surgeons from around the world to its prestigious CURE Neuro Fellowship Program. The teaching hospital consists of three operating rooms, a 10-bed intensive care unit, and a 30-bed children’s ward.
The hospital staff complete approximately 1,700 procedures annually for children with conditions including hydrocephalus, spina bifida, brain tumours, and other neural tube defects.
In addition to world-class clinical service, CURE Uganda ministers to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their communities.
