A 39-year-old patient from Jinja recently underwent a groundbreaking surgery to remove a 5-kilogram keloid, marking a milestone in Uganda’s medical field.
The operation took place during a health event organized by the Friends of All Africa Association (TADD) in partnership with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
A volunteer medical team from Türkiye, composed of doctors, nurses, anaesthesia technicians, and civil society members, conducted the surgery.
Over the course of 11 days, the 18-member team offered free medical services to hundreds of Ugandans, examining around 1,500 individuals and performing nearly 100 surgeries.
Among the patients was Muhammed Ramazan, who had been living with the keloid for almost eight years.
Led by Professor Dr Mehmet Dadaci, an expert in plastic and reconstructive surgery from Necmettin Erbakan University, the team successfully removed the keloid, which was one of the largest Dr Dadaci had encountered in his career. The 20-centimeter mass extended from Ramazan’s neck and behind his ears, severely impacting his quality of life.
“Keloids of this size are rare,” noted Dr Dadaci. The surgery greatly enhanced Ramazan’s well-being, allowing him to regain comfort and mobility after years of suffering.
Keloids are raised scars caused by excessive tissue growth during the healing of a wound, more common among people of African descent. While non-surgical treatments are often preferred, the extent of Ramazan’s condition required surgical intervention.
Cuneyd Tiryaki, TADD’s Ankara representative, highlighted the broader impact of the surgery, noting that the operation not only transformed Ramazan’s health but also improved his family, social, and work life.
