Uganda has recorded its first successful bone marrow transplant, marking a major milestone in the country’s cancer treatment capacity.
Sande Steven, a cancer patient, is the first person in Uganda’s history to undergo the procedure successfully, according to doctors at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
Dr Okello Clement, head of the bone marrow transplant unit, said the patient had been under treatment for a month and is now in stable condition.
He said carrying out a successful bone marrow transplant requires a rigorous and highly controlled process, especially since the service is new in Uganda.
“For a patient to qualify for a bone marrow transplant, they must undergo several diagnostic procedures and blood tests,” Dr Okello said.
He, however, noted that the team faced challenges during the process, including scepticism from some medical professionals who doubted whether the procedure could be done locally.
“There were also staffing gaps in the department, which need to be addressed as we expand the service,” he added.
Dr Henry Ddungu, a senior consultant in haematology and oncology at the institute, said the breakthrough should help reduce the number of cancer patients referred abroad for treatment.
“It is time Uganda reduces the number of patients sent overseas because we now have the capacity to treat them here,” he said.
Dr Ddungu said the institute aims to position Uganda as a regional centre for bone marrow transplants in Africa.
He added that the procedure is significantly cheaper locally, costing less than $15,000 compared with between $30,000 and $50,000 abroad.
“This success is not only for the Uganda Cancer Institute but for the entire country,” he said.
Sande, now recovering, praised the medical team for saving his life.
“It has not been easy. I did not know what would happen next, but the doctors kept comforting me. I am happy that my health is improving,” he said.
He urged Ugandans and the government to trust local health workers.
“I believe doctors abroad are the same as ours in terms of capacity and skills. What challenges us is the lack of belief in our own doctors,” he added.
The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, congratulated the oncology team for the achievement and urged them to sustain the programme.
“I am proud of you for the progress you have made. This breakthrough goes beyond cancer care and shows what is possible in our health sector,” she said.
