Government and the private sector has been called upon to invest more in staff and equipment to perform X-rays and ultrasound after specialists warned that inadequacies in this field have have led to a high level of deaths.
X-rays and ultrasounds are carried out by radiology specialists – but the number of radiology related cases in Uganda far outweigh the number of specialists.
Speaking at the organization’s annual conference at Mbale Resort Hotel on Friday (October 7, 2011) Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, President of the Uganda Society for Advancement of Radiology and Imaging, who is also a senior consultant at Mulago hospital’s Radiology and Imaging department, explained that Uganda has only 38 radiologists for a population of over 30 million people – just one radiologist for at least 1.2 million people.
“There are few people in this field that are serving our country and we are having a number of contentious radiology infections that need urgent attention. Inadequacies in specialized personnel have led to a high level of deaths of patients with radiology problems,” Dr. Byanyima said.
According to the health ministry’s maternal mortality statics, unsafe abortion is estimated to contribute to about 26 percent of maternal deaths; a high proportion of reproductive ill health.
Dr. Byanyima said an unsafe abortion causes permanent damage to the uterus making it difficult for a woman to carry future pregnancies but that early radiology intervention could detect such problems and save a woman’s life.
Dr. Gerald Makoba, a senior radiologist at Mbale referral hospital, said an environment of restrictive laws on abortion and lack of other supportive services has led to a high level of unsafe abortions with consequences of ill health and death. He added that the intervention of radiologist expertise can be of great value in these situations if the specialist’s advice is accurately respected.
Dr. Makoba revealed that approximately 15-23 percent of females between 15-24 years-of-age who have been pregnant have had an abortion and as many as 1,200 unsafe abortions result in deaths every year.
“Nearly a quarter –23 percent of abortion – result in serious complications. While post abortion care (PAC) services are supposed to be provided in HC III and HC IV, most of the health facilities require to be fully equipped to provide PAC services but lack of personnel and equipment is hindering radiology service delivery in the health sector across the country,” Dr. Makoba explained.
She added that the machinery required to for radiology diagnosis is lacking and expensive in the country, therefore patients have to dig deep into their pockets to meet the cost of bills when seeking radiology services.
She revealed that currently Uganda has only one functioning CT machines at Mulago Hospital, which is unable to handle the high number of cases. She emphasized the need for government intervention to purchase equipment to at least the level of Health Centre IIIs.
Dr. Elsie Kiguli Malwadde, an associate professor at Makerere School of Medicine, said Uganda should strengthen family planning services among young people and provide emergency care, especially post abortion care, with an emphasis on expectant mothers to take it upon themselves to have ultra scans to clarify uncertainties during pregnancy.
She urgent patients with radiology related problems not to shun visiting specialists because the exercise is “safe and above all life saving”, adding that those who ignore radiology appointments can end up being victims of preventable deaths.