A week-long plastic surgery outreach at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) concluded on Friday, April 24, with notable progress in reducing the backlog of patients awaiting specialized care. ALSO READ: Doctors at CHUK perform Rwanda’s first surgery on epilepsy patient During the exercise, 78 patients were assessed, with 42 successfully operated on by local specialist teams working alongside visiting experts supported by Operation Smile, a non-profit organization focused on expanding access to safe surgery and comprehensive care. CHUK said the interventions contributed to reducing the plastic surgery sub-specialty waiting list by an estimated three months, easing pressure on surgical services at the referral hospital. ALSO READ: Rwandan hospital unveils East Africa’s most advanced robotic surgical microscope The teams performed 10 to 12 surgical cases per day, compared to the usual 3 to 4 cases handled on regular working days. The program played a significant role in strengthening local capacity and quality health care for all,” CHUK noted. According to the hospital, the initiative also served as a capacity-building platform where local surgeons worked closely with international teams, enhancing skills transfer in reconstructive surgery.
