With a surge in burn injuries, Kiruddu national referral hospital is pushing for the establishment of a skin bank to improve treatment and recovery outcomes.
Handling thousands of burn patients annually, the hospital struggles with resource constraints, limiting its capacity to manage severe cases effectively. Dr David Silver Wambi, a plastic surgeon at Kiruddu, notes that a significant number of victims are women and children, many of whom suffer burns from unsafe cooking practices.
The hospital records over 4,000 outpatient burn cases and admits between 900 and 1,000 patients yearly. However, it can only provide adequate treatment for about 45-60% of each patient’s burns.
Experts warn that without urgent investment in advanced burn treatment technologies, survival rates for severe cases will remain low.
“Many of our patients suffer burns covering 60-70% of their bodies, and grafting alone is not sufficient. A skin bank would revolutionize treatment and significantly improve outcomes,” Dr Wambi emphasized.
Role of safer cooking alternatives
Beyond medical interventions, researchers at the Makerere University Lung Institute stress the importance of safer cooking alternatives. Dr Joanitah Nalunjogi, a PhD student under the Clean Air Africa Project, highlights that most burn incidents occur in kitchens, particularly in homes using open fires or rudimentary stoves.
“Gas-related burns are still relatively low, but the risk increases as more households transition to LPG cooking,” she noted.
Government officials acknowledge the urgency of shifting to safer cooking technologies but cite slow adoption as a major challenge. Nicholas Mukisa from the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) under the Ministry of Energy explains that while Uganda’s clean energy policies aim to reduce reliance on biomass, adoption remains sluggish.
“We have alternatives like improved charcoal stoves and LPG, yet many households remain hesitant due to cost and cultural preferences,” he said.
Government and nstitutional Efforts
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with various stakeholders, is conducting nationwide sensitization campaigns. These efforts include partnerships with the Buganda Kingdom to promote clean cooking solutions.
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment, citing initiatives under the Uganda Energy Policy and Clean Cooking Strategy (2020–2030), which aim to increase LPG usage from 1% to 8% and reduce biomass dependence.
Meanwhile, the Makerere University Lung Institute has launched a two-year study to assess the safety and effectiveness of different cooking technologies in reducing burn incidents.
“By the end of this study, we hope to provide concrete evidence on the link between cooking methods and burn severity, guiding future policies,” Dr Nalunjogi said.
Despite these ongoing efforts, the challenges remain substantial. As Kiruddu hospital continues to struggle with an overwhelming number of cases, medical experts and policymakers stress the urgency of establishing a skin bank and accelerating the adoption of safer cooking alternatives. Addressing these issues holistically could be key to reducing burn-related fatalities and improving patient recovery rates across the country.