By KT Reporter
Kiruddu National Referral Hospital is grappling with a sharp rise in burn cases, prompting calls for the establishment of a skin bank to enhance treatment and recovery outcomes. The facility, which handles thousands of burn patients annually, faces resource constraints, limiting its ability to manage severe cases effectively.
Dr. Wambi Silver David, a plastic surgeon at Kiruddu, highlights 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 to 1,000 patients yearly, yet it can only adequately treat about 45% to 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% to 70% of their bodies, and grafting alone is not sufficient. A skin bank would revolutionize treatment and improve outcomes,” Dr. Wambi explains.
Beyond medical interventions, researchers at Makerere University Lung Institute emphasize the need for safer cooking alternatives. Dr. Joanitah Nalunjogi, a PhD student under the Clean Air Africa Project, points out that most burn cases 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 notes.
Government officials acknowledge the urgency of shifting to safer cooking technologies but cite slow adoption as a major challenge. Mukisa Nicholas from the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) under the Ministry of Energy stresses that while Uganda’s clean energy policies aim to reduce reliance on biomass, uptake remains sluggish. “We have alternatives like improved charcoal stoves and LPG, yet many households remain hesitant due to cost and cultural preferences,” he says.
The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with stakeholders, is conducting nationwide sensitization campaigns, including partnerships with the Buganda Kingdom, to promote clean cooking solutions. Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa reaffirms the government’s commitment, citing initiatives under the Uganda Energy Policy and Clean Cooking Strategy (2020–2030) to increase LPG usage from 1% to 8% and cut biomass dependence.
Meanwhile, Makerere University Lung Institute has embarked on 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 adds.
Despite these efforts, the road to safer cooking and effective burn treatment remains long. As Kiruddu struggles with overwhelming cases, medical experts and policymakers alike stress the urgency of establishing a skin bank and fast-tracking safer cooking alternatives to curb the crisis-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
