Minister Dr Aceng Ocero roots for bone marrow transplant in Uganda

Kampala | Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero is pushing to implement a cost-cutting intervention that will save Uganda up to US$10 million per year once the project is fully operational. 

Dr. Aceng, a Lira City woman MP, has taken several steps to improve and expand the country’s access to specialised health services.

Dr. Aceng expressed satisfaction with Uganda’s progress while assessing the readiness of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Lubowa, Kampala.

The most advanced facilities can only be found in first-class medical facilities in the United States, China, India, and the United Kingdom, among other places.

Once operational, the Bone Marrow unit will save people with sickle cell anaemia and other conditions like blood cancer from having to travel abroad to replace their Bone Marrow tissues.

Only South Africa can perform bone marrow transplants, and Uganda will be the first country in East and Central Africa to establish such a unit.

Credit would go to President Museveni Yoweri and Minister Dr. Aceng Ocero, whose timely health interventions continue to make Ugandans smile.

During her visit last week, she praised the JCRC for having the first apheresis machine. Because of the specialised care it provides, the machine is saving the lives of hundreds of patients.

Dr. Aceng for Lango

Locally, she introduced and made hydroxyurea available to children with sickle cell anaemia.

Because of her, Uganda now has seven centres of excellence for the care of these children, as well as newborn screening.

Also read: The components of an ICU ambulance for Lango Dr. Aceng commissioned

While touring the facilities, the Minister was accompanied by JCRC’s Executive Director, Dr Cissy Kityo, and Prof Russell Ware of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in the United States, among other health experts.

The Minister would later fly to Toronto, Canada, where she received an award for her efforts against COVID-19.

“We are happy as team Uganda to be in attendance. We are excited that HE the President and many other leaders will be recognized and awarded,” she said.