Surge in Birth Defects in Lango sub-Region Alarms Doctors

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1446 EAT on Tuesday 22 July 2025

Health professionals in the Lango sub-region are expressing deep concern over a growing number of children being born with congenital malformations, or birth defects.

These defects—some minor, others severe and life-threatening—are increasingly being reported in health facilities across northern Uganda.

At Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH), more than 1,100 surgical procedures have been carried out to correct birth defects in children between 2024 and mid-July 2025, a trend that medical workers describe as both alarming and urgent.

Malformations are structural abnormalities that develop during pregnancy and can affect various parts of the body, often necessitating complex medical and surgical care.

In the Lango sub-region, common birth defects include gastroschisis, hydrocephalus, cleft palate and lip, anorectal malformations, pediatric hernias, spina bifida, limb deformities, and a range of urological complications.

Speaking at the recent commissioning of a newly refurbished surgical theatre at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH), Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocer commended the hospital’s surgical team for their dedicated efforts in saving the lives of children born with these conditions.

However, Dr. Aceng emphasized the need for more proactive measures to prevent birth defects, noting that treatment alone is not enough to address the growing burden.

Dr. Andrew Odur, the acting director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, voiced deeper concern over the rising number of cases. He cited poor maternal health practices, widespread self-medication, and environmental stressors as key contributing factors.

“As we look at the backbone of forming a child, there are basic ingredients the mother must have,” Dr. Odur explained.

“These revolve around how a mother feeds, the types of medications being used in the community—whether they are prescribed or not—and the environment in which they live. All of these play a significant role in the development of the unborn child.”

Dr. Odur further emphasized the critical role of quality antenatal care and preconception planning, cautioning that current efforts remain largely reactive rather than preventive.

He revealed that hospital data shows between 30 and 45 children are assessed daily at Lira Regional Referral Hospital for suspected congenital anomalies, with at least five undergoing corrective surgery each day.

According to him, many of these cases could be prevented or mitigated through earlier intervention and better maternal health practices.

“Some mothers report for their first antenatal visit at six or seven months into pregnancy,” Dr. Odur noted. “That’s already far too late. A baby is fully formed within the first 11 weeks, so if there’s going to be a problem, it often begins early.”

He stressed that early antenatal visits—ideally within the first 12 weeks—are critical for detecting and managing congenital anomalies.

“We recommend that every expectant mother make her first antenatal visit in the first trimester. Unfortunately, we often see women coming in for the first time at six or seven months, which limits the chances of early intervention.”

Routine ultrasound scans during antenatal care, he added, are key to identifying structural abnormalities and enabling timely medical or surgical responses.

Dr. Charles Newton Odongo, a pediatric surgeon at LRRH, said the rising frequency and severity of birth defects in the region have taken on deeper meaning for the hospital’s surgical team. “This is no longer just a medical duty,” he said. “It’s become a personal mission.”

Dr. Odongo emphasized that while the surgeries performed are often lifesaving, they are also highly complex and require long-term care. Many children need ongoing support well beyond the operating room, including physical rehabilitation and psychological counseling.

“Some of these children can’t pass stool normally. They may suffer from incontinence and require constant intestinal cleaning and emotional support,” he explained. “Just imagine a child forced to pass poop from the belly.”

In 2024, Lira Regional Referral Hospital recorded 6,425 deliveries, with 6,324 resulting in live births. The hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admits an average of 80 newborns each month, many of whom are born with congenital conditions.

As the number of birth defects continues to rise, medical professionals are calling on communities to take preventative action—by prioritizing early antenatal care, ensuring proper maternal nutrition, and promoting preconception health education.

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