During an 11-day humanitarian expedition, a volunteer medical team from Türkiye, consisting of physicians, nurses, anesthesia technicians, and civil society members, provided free medical exams and procedures to hundreds of Ugandans. The health initiative was sponsored by the Friends of All Africa Association (TADD) in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
One of the standout cases involved the successful removal of a 5-kilogram keloid mass from a patient named Muhammad Ramazan, 39. The 18-member medical team, specializing in general surgery, urology, ENT, gynecology, and plastic surgery, assessed around 1,500 individuals and performed nearly 100 procedures during the event.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dadaci, vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Necmettin Erbakan University and a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery, described the keloid case as the largest he had ever encountered. “We came across a keloid of a size I’ve never seen in my life,” Dadaci remarked, noting that the tumor measured 20 centimeters and affected areas behind the patient’s ears and neck. Although non-surgical treatments for keloids are typically preferred, the team successfully excised the growth, significantly improving the patient’s quality of life.
Keloids occur when the body produces excess tissue during the healing process after a wound. Dadaci pointed out that individuals of African descent are more prone to these conditions. He added, “The patient has been living with this mass for seven or eight years under challenging circumstances.”
Cuneyd Tiryaki, a TADD spokesperson in Ankara, emphasized the broader significance of the surgery. “This operation not only improved the patient’s health but also positively impacted his family life, work life, and social integration,” she said. Tiryaki noted that without the intervention, the patient would have faced lifelong struggles due to financial constraints and the lack of medical personnel in Uganda. “We believe there has been a noticeable difference before and after the procedure. We’re delighted to have been part of such a significant effort,” she concluded.
Following the successful operation, the patient was released, marking a new chapter in his life.
