Uganda Heart Institute receives donation of life-saving pacemakers

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The Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) has received five electronic pacemakers for critically ill heart patients.

Requiring surgery to be installed in a patient, a pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that prevents the heart from beating too slowly.

The heart institute received the devices — a donation worth 50 million Ugandan shillings — from Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Uganda) Limited on Tuesday (November 4) at the institute in Kampala.

Dr Emmy Okello, a senior consultant cardiologist and head of Adult Cardiology at UHI, said the donation is timely considering that they have over 200 heart patients on the waiting list.

“When heart patients need electronic pacemakers, there is no other drug that can work for them. It is therefore vital that they receive them,” he said as he received the package.

How it works

A pacemaker has advanced technology. 

It is surgically placed under the skin to help the heart beat at a regular rhythm by sending electrical impulses to the heart through wires called leads. 

The leads connect the device to the heart, and when the pacemaker senses the heart is beating too slowly or has missed a beat, it sends signals to stimulate it to beat normally.

A pacemaker is required for individuals with a heart that beats too slowly (bradycardia), has a faulty electrical conduction system (heart block), or in some cases, a weakened heart pump (heart failure). 

Common symptoms that may indicate a need for a pacemaker include dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

Ani Prajith, the chief executive officer of Phillips Pharmaceuticals, said the donation is part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.

Electronic pacemakers being displayed at the Uganda Heart Institute. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

They have also organised a blood donation camp and distribution of clothes to needy communities across the country through missionary churches.

The company, which is a part of the larger Phillips Pharma Group, markets and distributes a wide range of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostic equipment across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

It imports and distributes medical products in Uganda, with services including warehousing, in-market distribution, and marketing.

Prajith said they are pleased to support needy heart patients, hopeful that the devices will save their lives.

'A gap'

Dr Tom Mwabu, who is the Senior Consultant, Adult Cardiac Surgeon & Head of Adult Cardiac Surgery at the Heart Institute, said the facility has been partnering with Phillips Pharmaceuticals for the last 20 years, and they are impressed by the services offered. 

Dr Tom Mwambu, Senior Consultant Adult Cardiac Surgeon and Head of Adult Cardiac Surgery addressing guests during the handover of pacemakers. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

The other aspects the agency has offered range from developing the Cath Lab, surgery programme and procuring supplies that enable the UHI team to treat the patients without referring them abroad.

“These devices, without such support, many of the patients would not be able to access them,” said Mwabu.

The heart institute has over 200 heart patients requiring pacemakers, yet the facility only provides about 80 to 100 of the devices in a year. This implies there is still a huge gap.

“This is where Phillips Pharmaceuticals Uganda Limited comes in handy," said Mwabu, adding that such support is channeled to the extremely poor heart patients.

According to Dr Okello, the beneficiaries of the five donated pacemakers were selected through a rigorous process. 

After the patients were identified, they were sent to a social worker who assessed them to ensure they are truly needy.