(IUIU), in collaboration with Doctors Worldwide (DWW) from Turkey, organized a surgical camp in April 2014. In this camp, different types of hernia repair, among other general surgical procedures were conducted. The target population was the population within the Gombe hospital serving districts. Methods: The defined area for the surgical camp was Butambala and neighboring districts including Mpigi; Gomba, Mityana, and parts of Wakiso district. The IUIU team and Gombe hospital team were respectful to the sensitivities of the community, district and government officials. The surgical team composed of 4 surgeons (three from DWW-Turkey and one from Uganda), 3 Anesthesiologists, (two from DWW-Turkey and one from Uganda), 2 nurses and 2 intern doctor, (one from DWW-Turkey and one from Uganda). Results: The total number of patients operated was 115; however the total number of operations performed was 130. One hundred and fourteen operations were different types of hernia repair. The ages of hernia patients ranged between 1 and 80 years (mean±SD is 27.46±24.55). Hemoglobin values ranged between 9.2 and 17 (mean±SD is 12.5±1.48). Only two (1.8%) of 114 hernia patients had positive results on HIV serology. Sixteen patients underwent circumcision. Of those, only two (12.5%) patients had positive results on HIV serology. Conclusion: Hernia is a common surgical problem in all age groups. It is more common in men. In addition to the operations conducted, the need for surgery for 187 patients was detected. This condition shows that the hernia operation is commonly accepted as a negligible condition.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate, and report the experiences of the volunteer surgical team of Doctors Worldwide (DWW) Turkey during their medical activites in Uganda. Materials and Methods: A surgical camp was organized by DWW Turkey between 3-8 February 2015 in the Butambala and Kampala districts of Uganda. The surgical camp, in addition to other surgeries, was intended to conduct herniorrhaphies for all forms of abdominal wall hernias. Outcomes obtained as results of all surgical practices, including the demographic data of the patients, the types of anaesthesiological, and surgical procedures performed were recorded, and analyzed. Results: Surgical interventions were carried out under either general, spinal, or local anesthesia in a total of 115 patients with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia in 80 (69.57%), umbilical hernia in 15 (13.04%), and epigastric hernia in 9 (7.82%) cases. Additionally, operations were performed for hydrocele in 11 (9.57%) cases. Postoperative minor complications were met in 10 (8.70%) patients, and no postoperative mortality took place at the end of all operations. Discussion and Conclusion: DWW Turkey Surgical Team conclude that, as an efficacious modality of treatment, surgery should be considered as one of the most important priorities when conducting humanitarian health aid programs. Key Words: global surgery; hernia surgery; doctors worldwide; Uganda Özet Amaç: Yeryüzü Doktorları Türkiye'nin gönüllü cerrahi ekibinin Uganda'daki faaliyetleri ile ilgili deneyimlerini değerlendirerek bildirmeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Yeryüzü Doktorları Türkiye tarafından 3-8 Şubat 2015 tarihleri arasında Uganda'nın Butambala ve Kampala bölgelerinde cerrahi kamp düzenlendi. Bu kampın amacı, diğer cerrahilere ek olarak, tüm karın duvarı fıtık tipleri için fıtık tamirlerinin gerçekleştirilmesiydi. Hastaların demografik verileri ile uygulanan anestezi ve cerrahi prosedürlerin tipleri kayıt edilerek incelendi. Bulgular: Toplam 115 cerrahi hastasında operasyonlar genel, spinal ya da lokal anestezi ile yapıldı. Bunlardan 80'i (%69,57) kasık fıtığı, 15'i (%13,04) göbek fıtığı ve 9'u (%7,82) epigastrik fıtık tanısı almıştı. Ek olarak hidrosel tanısı ile 11 (%9,57) olgu ameliyat edildi. On (%8,70) hastada postoperatif minör komplikasyonlar gözlenirken, ameliyatların sonunda postoperatif mortalite gelişmedi. Tartışma ve Sonuç: Yeryüzü Doktorları; etkin bir tedavi modalitesi olarak cerrahinin, insani sağ-lık yardımı programlarının düzenlenmesi sırasındaki planlamalarda en önemli önceliklerden birini oluşturması gerektiği kanısındadırlar. Anahtar Kelimeler: küresel cerrahi; fıtık cerrahisi; yeryüzü doktorları; Uganda Orjinal Makale/Original Article

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate, and report the experiences of the volunteer surgical team of Doctors Worldwide (DWW) Turkey during their medical activites in Uganda. Materials and Methods: A surgical camp was organized by DWW Turkey between 3-8 February 2015 in the Butambala and Kampala districts of Uganda. The surgical camp, in addition to other surgeries, was intended to conduct herniorrhaphies for all forms of abdominal wall hernias. Outcomes obtained as results of all surgical practices, including the demographic data of the patients, the types of anaesthesiological, and surgical procedures performed were recorded, and analyzed. Results: Surgical interventions were carried out under either general, spinal, or local anesthesia in a total of 115 patients with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia in 80 (69.57%), umbilical hernia in 15 (13.04%), and epigastric hernia in 9 (7.82%) cases. Additionally, operations were performed for hydrocele in 11 (9.57%) cases. Postoperative minor complications were met in 10 (8.70%) patients, and no postoperative mortality took place at the end of all operations. Discussion and Conclusion: DWW Turkey Surgical Team conclude that, as an efficacious modality of treatment, surgery should be considered as one of the most important priorities when conducting humanitarian health aid programs. Key Words: global surgery; hernia surgery; doctors worldwide; Uganda Özet Amaç: Yeryüzü Doktorları Türkiye'nin gönüllü cerrahi ekibinin Uganda'daki faaliyetleri ile ilgili deneyimlerini değerlendirerek bildirmeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Yeryüzü Doktorları Türkiye tarafından 3-8 Şubat 2015 tarihleri arasında Uganda'nın Butambala ve Kampala bölgelerinde cerrahi kamp düzenlendi. Bu kampın amacı, diğer cerrahilere ek olarak, tüm karın duvarı fıtık tipleri için fıtık tamirlerinin gerçekleştirilmesiydi. Hastaların demografik verileri ile uygulanan anestezi ve cerrahi prosedürlerin tipleri kayıt edilerek incelendi. Bulgular: Toplam 115 cerrahi hastasında operasyonlar genel, spinal ya da lokal anestezi ile yapıldı. Bunlardan 80'i (%69,57) kasık fıtığı, 15'i (%13,04) göbek fıtığı ve 9'u (%7,82) epigastrik fıtık tanısı almıştı. Ek olarak hidrosel tanısı ile 11 (%9,57) olgu ameliyat edildi. On (%8,70) hastada postoperatif minör komplikasyonlar gözlenirken, ameliyatların sonunda postoperatif mortalite gelişmedi. Tartışma ve Sonuç: Yeryüzü Doktorları; etkin bir tedavi modalitesi olarak cerrahinin, insani sağ-lık yardımı programlarının düzenlenmesi sırasındaki planlamalarda en önemli önceliklerden birini oluşturması gerektiği kanısındadırlar. Anahtar Kelimeler: küresel cerrahi; fıtık cerrahisi; yeryüzü doktorları; Uganda Orjinal Makale/Original Article