Iganga Hosts First WALANT Training and Free Community Surgical Camp
By: Tatumwa Desmond Benjamin
The Rotary Club of Iganga, working closely with the Rotaract Club of Iganga and healthcare partners, conducted a two-day Wide Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet training and free community surgical camp at Iganga General Hospital on 30 and 31 July 2026. The initiative combined professional training, surgical mentorship and direct patient care, creating both immediate and long-term benefits for the people of Iganga and the wider Busoga region.
The programme began on 30 July 2026 with the first WALANT course to be conducted in Iganga. Twelve doctors were trained, forming the district’s inaugural cohort of healthcare professionals to complete the course. The training equipped participants with knowledge and practical skills for performing selected surgical procedures using local anaesthesia while the patient remains awake, without the routine use of a tourniquet or general anaesthesia.
WALANT is particularly relevant in settings where access to specialist surgeons, anaesthesia providers and fully equipped operating theatres may be limited. By enabling appropriately selected procedures to be undertaken under local anaesthesia, the approach can reduce dependence on general anaesthesia, improve operating-room efficiency and expand access to timely surgical care. It also allows patients to communicate with the surgical team during some procedures, which can support assessment of movement and function before the operation is completed.
The course combined theoretical instruction, clinical demonstrations, patient selection, administration of local anaesthesia, infection prevention, pain management and surgical safety. The training was designed not only to introduce a new surgical approach but also to build sustainable local capacity by enabling participating doctors to apply and share the skills within their respective health facilities.
On 31 July 2026, the training was followed by a free community surgical camp at Iganga General Hospital. A total of 32 operations were completed, providing essential surgical care to patients who might otherwise have experienced delays because of financial, geographical or health-system barriers.
The procedures addressed a wide range of conditions. The activity record included the excision of one dermatofibroma and seven hernia operations, comprising four supra-umbilical hernias, one inguinal hernia, one strangulated femoral hernia and one umbilical hernia. Three patients underwent procedures for keloids or hypertrophic scars, while five lipomas were removed. The surgical team also completed two disarticulation procedures and two fibroadenoma excisions.
Seven additional procedures involved ganglion cysts, dermoid cysts and sebaceous cysts. Four operations were also conducted for conditions including furuncles, skin tags, scalp granulomas and foreign bodies. These cases demonstrated the range of common surgical conditions affecting communities and the importance of making safe surgical services available closer to where people live.
The camp also created a valuable practical learning environment for the doctors who had completed the WALANT course. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, participants observed and supported patient assessment, surgical decision-making, operative care and postoperative management. This model ensured that the initiative provided immediate treatment to patients while strengthening the skills of local healthcare professionals.
The faculty included Dr. Isaac Mubezi, MD, MBChB, MMed-Surgery, FCS-ECSA and FACS, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Hope and Healing Center. He was joined by Dr. Ben Kigwe, Dr. Gerald Chelimo and Dr. Isa Isabirye. Their expertise and commitment provided participants with high-quality instruction, mentorship and practical exposure to safe surgical care.
The course and surgical camp were organised through a partnership involving the Rotary Club of Iganga, Iganga General Hospital, Imperial Hospital and Hope and Healing Center, with active participation from the Rotaract Club of Iganga. The collaboration brought together community mobilisation, clinical expertise, institutional support and volunteer service to respond to local surgical needs.
Hope and Healing Center is a private, not-for-profit health facility located in Kiwanyi, Nawandala Sub-county, Iganga District. It operates as a ministry of Something Deeper Ministries, a non-governmental organisation serving communities in the district. Through clinical services, community outreach, professional training and collaboration with public health facilities, the centre works to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for underserved populations.
The successful training of 12 doctors and completion of 32 operations marked an important milestone for surgical care in Iganga. Beyond the patients treated during the camp, the programme established a foundation for continued mentorship, knowledge sharing and the wider use of appropriate surgical innovations within the district.
Through initiatives such as this, the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Iganga continue to demonstrate the power of service and partnership in strengthening healthcare systems. The programme responded to immediate community needs while investing in the professionals who will continue providing safe and accessible surgical care long after the camp.
