Browsing by Author "Mugisha, Noleb"

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    Breast cancer care in Uganda: A multicenter study on the frequency of breast cancer surgery in relation to the incidence of breast cancer
    (PLoS ONE, 2019) Hjelm, Tove E.; Matovu, Alphonsus; Mugisha, Noleb; Lofgren, Jenny ¨
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Considerable funding and efforts are invested in breast cancer research and healthcare, but only a fraction of this reaches women and healthcare systems in low income countries. Surgical treatment is an essential part of breast cancer care, but access to surgery is in general very limited in low income countries such as Uganda. In this study, the previously unknown nationwide rate of breast cancer surgery was investigated. Methods and findings This was a multicenter, retrospective study, investigating breast cancer surgery in the public healthcare system in Uganda. Data were collected from operating theater registries at primary, secondary and tertiary level healthcare centres throught the country, including 14 general hospitals, the 14 regional referral hospitals and the national referral hospital. Patients who underwent major surgery for breast cancer at these hospitals during 2013 and 2014 were included. The number of breast cancer procedures performed, geographical variation, level of healthcare staff performing surgery and patient characteristics were investigated. After correction for missing data, a total of 137 breast cancer procedures were performed each year within the public healthcare system, corresponding to 5.7% of the breast cancer incidence in the country at that time. Most procedures (n = 161, 59.0%) were performed at the national referral hospital by qualified surgeons. Many of the patients were young; 30.1% being less than 40 years old. The proportion of male breast cancers in the study was large (6.2%). Conclusions The rate of breast cancer surgery in Uganda is minimal and in several parts of the country breast cancer surgery is not performed at all. More resources must be directed towards breast cancer in low income countries such as Uganda. The fact that the patients were young calls for further research, prevention and treatment specifically targeting young women in the study setting.
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    United against cancer: prevention to end-of-life care—highlights from the Uganda Cancer Institute–Palliative Care Association of Uganda Joint International Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care and the 7th Palliative Care Conference, 24–25 August 2017, Kampala, Uganda
    (Ecancermedicalscience, 2017) Downing, Julia; Ddungu, Henry; Kiyange, Fatia; Batuli, Mwazi; Kafeero, James; Kebirungi, Harriet; Kiwanuka, Rose; Mugisha, Noleb; Mwebesa, Eddie; Mwesiga, Mark; Namukwaya, Elizabeth; Niyonzima, Nixon; Phipps, Warren; Orem, Jackson
    The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) and the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) jointly hosted an international conference oncancer and palliative care in August 2017 in Kampala, Uganda. At the heart of the conference rested a common commitment to see patientcare improved across Uganda and the region. The theme – United Against Cancer: Prevention to End-of-Life Care – reflected this jointvision and the drive to remember that cancer care should include prevention, early diagnosis and screening, treatment, rehabilitation andpalliative care. The conference brought together 451 delegates from 17 countries. The key themes of the conference included: the importanceof the World Health Assembly Resolutions on Palliative Care (2014) and cancer care (2017); the need to develop a National CancerControl Programme; strategies for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment in low- and middle-income countries; advocacy, human rightsand access to essential medicines, including access to opioids and nurse prescribing; paediatric care; leadership and commitment; collaboration;resources (financial and human), the recognition that palliative care is not limited to cancer care and the importance of learningfrom each other. The conference also gave the opportunity to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UCI, with a celebration dinner attended by the Minister of Health and the US Ambassador. Participants reported that the conference was a forum that updated them in all aspects of cancer and palliative care, which challenged their knowledge, and was enlightening in terms of current treatment options for individuals with cancer. The benefits of having a joint conference were recognized, allowing for further networking between cancer and palliative care organizations. This conference, highlighting many developments in cancer and palliative care, served as a unique opportunity to bring people together and unite them in developing cancer and palliative care