Judul : Local Life-Saving Surgeries Achieved in Two Years
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Local Life-Saving Surgeries Achieved in Two Years
Rwanda's healthcare system is broadening its ability to manage complex surgeries that were previously only conducted overseas. One example is an intrauterine transfusion at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), where medical professionals successfully treated a severely anemic fetus, which was later born healthy at 36 weeks. ALSO READ: How doctors at CHUK saved baby after mother’s five miscarriages This procedure, aimed at addressing Rhesus incompatibility, required highly specialized skills and coordination, including the preparation of concentrated blood in collaboration with the National Center for Blood Transfusion. Currently, the country has 162 surgeons serving nearly 14 million people, significantly below the approximately 1,400 recommended by the World Health Organization for sufficient population coverage. The number of surgical procedures is increasing, with 1,788 operations per 100,000 people in 2022, more than double the rate in 2017, according to Rwanda’s National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plan, as outlined in a four-year progress report published in April 2024. Institutions such as IRCAD Africa are enhancing the capabilities of local surgical teams and reinforcing surgical capacity. Here are 10 key procedures now available locally over the past two years: Intrauterine fetal blood transfusion In January, CHUK performed the country's first intrauterine blood transfusion on a fetus at 27 weeks gestation. The unborn child had severe anemia caused by Rhesus isoimmunization, a condition where a mother's antibodies attack the fetal red blood cells. The procedure involved injecting compatible red blood cells directly into the fetus and was repeated weekly until a safe delivery. According to CHUK officials, this capability offers an alternative to referrals for high-risk pregnancies. Kidney transplants Kidney transplantation, one of the most intricate surgical procedures, is now carried out at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in Kigali. The first three kidney transplants were performed in May 2023 in collaboration with visiting American specialists. Since then, 44 Rwandans have received successful kidney transplants locally as of March. Previously, patients needing kidney transplants were referred abroad, mainly to India, at an estimated cost of Rwf13 million per patient. The transplant program is conducted monthly, with visiting experts mentoring Rwandan surgeons during a two-year capacity-building phase. Hepatoma-pancreatic-biliary surgery Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital introduced hepatoma-pancreatic-biliary (HPB) surgeries for complicated liver, pancreas, and bile duct conditions in April 2023. Led by French surgeon Prof. Jean Marc Régimbeau along with Rwandan specialists, these procedures previously required expensive referrals abroad, sometimes up to Rwf100 million. The program focuses on hands-on training for local teams, ensuring sustainable advanced care and reducing the financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. Laparoscopic surgery The opening of IRCAD Africa in Kigali in 2023 brought minimally invasive surgery to the country. The Masaka-based center provides advanced laparoscopic training and performs procedures like gallbladder removal, hernia repair, and gynecological surgeries. IRCAD is part of an international network specializing in surgical innovation. It aims to train over 1,000 African surgeons annually while increasing Rwanda's domestic capacity to perform less invasive procedures, which reduce hospital stays and recovery time. Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) Cardiologists performed Rwanda's first catheter-based closure of a patent foramen ovale, a small heart opening that increases stroke risk, in May. Using a minimally invasive approach, a device was threaded through a vein to seal the hole. The procedure was conducted at King Faisal Hospital by Swiss cardiologist Dr. Hugues Lucron alongside Rwandan cardiologist Dr. Gérard Misago. Interventional oncology through interventional radiology Rwanda's interventional oncology program uses minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to treat tumors. Techniques include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver cancers, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and core-needle biopsies, offering targeted treatment with shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgery. Spinal and central nervous system surgery At the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), neurosurgical services now include spinal operations and other central nervous system interventions. CHUB's surgery department runs a neurosurgery unit that combines both open and minimally invasive techniques, aiming to reduce risks and improve patient recovery. Neurosurgery King Faisal Hospital's Neurosurgery Unit provides complex care for brain tumors, spine disorders, traumatic injuries, and conditions such as hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation. In April 2024, the hospital launched a Neurology Unit in partnership with Ghent University Hospital (Belgium), equipped with advanced diagnostic tools like Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG). Fertility treatment Assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), are offered at several private clinics in Kigali. Legacy Clinics, among others, established laboratories and trained specialists to support couples facing infertility. Although IVF services began around 2018, access became more visible and more clinics started offering local treatment by 2023. Advanced diagnostic imaging Referral hospitals, including King Faisal, have expanded access to advanced imaging technologies such as CT, MRI, and mammography. While these services were previously limited to some private clinics, they are now more widely available. Recent tariff reforms have also made diagnostic imaging more affordable; for instance, under the revised 2025 health-service rates, the cost of a CT brain scan for Community-Based Health Insurance (Mutuelle de santé) beneficiaries was reduced from Rwf45,000 to Rwf16,283.
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