Health 16 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
165 Women Receive Free Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgeries in Buikwe District
Over 165 women, mostly aged 50 and above, have benefited from free pelvic organ prolapse surgeries at St Francis Health Care Services in Mbikko, Buikwe, as part of a year-long initiative targeting 600 patients. The program employs a low-recurrence sacrospinous fixation technique led by Ugandan and Australian specialists. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/165-women-undergo-pelvic-organ-surgery-in-buikwe-5425320
In Mbikko, Njeru Municipality, Buikwe District, 165 women underwent free surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse over the past 11 months at St Francis Health Care Services.
This effort forms part of a broader campaign launched in June 2025, aiming to assist 600 patients by June 2026. Primarily targeting mothers over 50, the surgeries address a condition where weakened pelvic muscles cause organs like the uterus or bladder to descend and protrude.
Dr. Anthony Ruhangayebare, the facility’s medical officer, highlighted that the team uses sacrospinous fixation (SSF), anchoring organs to pelvic ligaments. This method, uncommon in Uganda, shows near-zero recurrence rates compared to traditional vaginal hysterectomy.
Out of 300 screened women, 50 had advanced stage 3 or 4 prolapse. The condition prevails in Busoga, Eastern Uganda, and Buganda regions, affecting elderly women, those with multiple births, heavy laborers, or chronic coughs.
To mitigate risks, Dr. Ruhangayebare recommends family planning for birth spacing, avoiding heavy lifting, skilled delivery care, and treating persistent coughs. Stigma often silences sufferers, leading to marital issues, but post-recovery, normal activities including sex resume without problems.
Funded by Australia’s DAK International Network and Partners for Equity, patients stay five days post-op for monitoring, with year-long community follow-ups.
Beneficiary Fina Namuswe, 62, endured years of back and abdominal pain relieved only temporarily by painkillers, while Monica Naikoba, 54, from Kamuli, suffered genital itching and severe discomfort as a mother of seven.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)