2025 CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda Annual Report

annual report

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda

20 25

Annual Report 2025

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contents A Letter from the Executive Director...............

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Overview FY2025..............................................

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Our Network......................................................

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Building the Future: Partnering to Save Lives ............................................

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Feature Article: Revolutionizing Pediatric Neurosurgery .........................

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Patient Story: Mercy .........................................

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Hospital Leadership Team.................................

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Financial Activity...............................................

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Partnerships.......................................................

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Join Us................................................................

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CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda The numbers and statistics cited throughout this report reflect CURE’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), which ran from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

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purpose

vision

mission

CURE provides worldclass surgical care to the world’s most vulnerable children for the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel.

A world where children living with disabilities reach their full potential through God’s hope and healing.

To heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God. ­­—Luke 9:2

Annual Report 2025

Lindah Kyozirah, a Primary Care Nurse at CURE Uganda, gently attends to a little warrior in the ICU.

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a letter from

the executive director Timothy C. Erickson, MBA hank you for your continued commitment to the life-saving mission of CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda. As we reflect on fiscal year 2025, I am deeply grateful for how God has sustained this mission—enabling our teams to care for more vulnerable children than ever before with great skill, compassion, and grace through: • Brain surgeries: 2,166 • Inpatient admissions: 2,045 • Outpatients treated at the hospital and at mobile clinics: 10,013 • People reached with the gospel: 63,168

Letter from the Executive Director

A major focus this year was strengthening stewardship to expand our charitable resources even further.

We successfully launched a new accounting and inventory management system based on Odoo 16 and fully utilized our newly constructed warehouse following extensive training and rigorous stocktaking procedures. These systems help strengthen accountability and ensure resources are managed efficiently as we honor God and serve our vulnerable patients.

We also continued advancing clinical excellence through the installation of the new Brainlab neuronavigation system, made possible by a USAIDASHA grant. This system has strengthened our ability to perform complex pediatric neurosurgery using GPS-navigated precision to support safer procedures and better outcomes.

reducing delays and the risk of tumor recurrence. Since the partnership began, more than 130 children have been supported with additional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy services.

We are also grateful to our generous partners who help us restore dignity for our patients in practical ways. With the support of Joni and Friends, hundreds of children received brand-new specialized Cub wheelchairs—opening doors to school, church, and community life.

Our 9th annual CURE Brain Surgery Run in October was a powerful expression of community support, bringing together more than 1,400 participants and raising UGX 609,929,975 in cash donations and giftsin-kind to support life-saving brain surgeries.

By God’s grace, our spiritual ministry programs reached 63,168 people, with 2,775 committing their lives to Christ. It has been a fruitful year of integrating spiritual ministry into all we do and fulfilling our mission of healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Even as we celebrate such great progress, the need remains great. With your ongoing partnership, we will continue to reach tens of thousands more children in need of specialized care. Thank you for journeying with us in this life-saving mission!

Yours in service,

Care for children with brain tumors was also further strengthened through our new partnership with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).

Children who receive specialized surgery at CURE Uganda are now referred directly, and with the highest priority, for coordinated postsurgical cancer care,

Timothy C. Erickson, MBA Executive Director

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda

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key program statistics

procedures

10,013 patient visits 136,656 total since inception

2,775 decisions for christ 28,914 total since inception

healthcare

2,160 professionals trained 5,692 total since inception

people reached

63,168 with the gospel 263,998 total since inception

patient visits*

2,166 surgical procedures in FY25

69%

Hydrocephalus

13%

Spina bifida

10%

Other neurological

6%

Brain tumor

2%

Encephalocele

hospital summary

59 patient beds 3 operating rooms 255 staff members 18 ICU beds *The Ebola outbreak in Uganda from Jaunary to April 2025 caused the hospital to pause mobile clinics and reduce patient visits.

people reached with the gospel

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overview fiscal year 2025

Our Network

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our network CURE Uganda is part of a Christian nonprofit organization that operates a global network of children’s hospitals pairing world-class surgical care and counseling to serve children living with treatable disabilities and their families.

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CURE Uganda and the Uganda Cancer Institute team up to improve pediatric brain tumor care

Annual Report 2025

partnering to save lives URE Uganda began partnering with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) to provide children diagnosed with brain tumors with access to essential follow-up treatments like chemotherapy and radiation following life-saving neurosurgery.

Before this collaboration, delays in postsurgical care often led to tumor regrowth and repeat surgeries. Now, timely and coordinated treatment between CURE and UCI has dramatically improved survival and recovery outcomes.

More than 130 children have been referred from CURE to UCI, with at least 100 more expected this year. The collaboration removes financial barriers and streamlines referrals, offering free neurosurgical care at CURE and affordable cancer treatment at UCI. Genesis, a young girl who faced a life-threatening cancerous brain tumor, is now cancer-free thanks to this program. A multidisciplinary team from CURE and UCI—including neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, and palliative care specialists—ensures children like Genesis receive the comprehensive care they need.

Genesis received neurosurgery at CURE Uganda to remove a life-threatening brain tumor, and she currently undergoes regular checkups with UCI to ensure she remains cancer-free.

This team is also spearheading the development of a national pediatric brain tumor registry to collect and comprehensively track patient information. This will help doctors and researchers understand how common brain tumors are, what kinds are being treated, how patients are cared for, and how well they recover so doctors can improve care.

Together, CURE and UCI are transforming pediatric neuro-oncology in Uganda, ensuring no child is left behind.

Doctors at CURE Uganda surgically remove a child’s life-threatening brain tumor.

Building the Future

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CURE Neurosurgeon Dr. Humphrey Okechi (left) and Dr. Jalilarah Nassozi (right), a CURE Neuro resident from Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya, perform a neurosurgery with the help of the Brainlab neuronavigation system.

revolutionizing pediatric neurosurgery CURE Uganda pioneers Brainlab neuronavigation technology

Feature Article

URE Uganda has become the first hospital in the country to install a Brainlab neuronavigation system—a major milestone in pediatric neurosurgery.

Funded by a special grant, this cutting-edge technology allows CURE surgeons to perform complex brain procedures such as tumor removals, biopsies, epilepsy surgeries, and shunt placements with unprecedented accuracy. CURE Uganda joins only two other countries in East Africa using this revolutionary system.

how it works Described as a “GPS for the brain,” Brainlab merges high-resolution CT and MRI imaging with real-time electromagnetic tracking. This enables neurosurgeons to navigate the brain with extreme precision, ensuring safer and more accurate procedures.

Whether removing tumors, performing biopsies, treating epilepsy, or placing shunts, the system minimizes damage to healthy brain tissue, shortens surgical time, and promotes faster recovery for young patients.

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Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye, Medical Director at CURE Uganda, explains that while surgeons traditionally rely on anatomical landmarks, Brainlab helps compensate for the natural variation in human anatomy, ensuring pinpoint targeting of lesions. “With Brainlab, we can better localize pathology and plan a more focused surgical approach,” he said.

This approach is especially vital in pediatric cases, where small anatomical variations can make a big difference.

Dr. Tshepang Tau, a Neurosurgeon from South Africa who helped set up the system, emphasized its importance: “The brain is delicate, and Brainlab allows you to avoid harming healthy areas while addressing the problem. It’s a game-changer.”

improving life-saving treatment amid Christ-centered care For the children treated at CURE Uganda, many from rural and underserved communities, this technology is a life-changing breakthrough.

Families often travel long distances from areas with limited healthcare options and resources to seek help.

Now, children living with life-threatening conditions like brain tumors, hydrocephalus, or epilepsy can access world-class surgical care that was once only available abroad.

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This technology will allow our neurosurgeons to operate with the highest precision, giving vulnerable children access to the best neurosurgical care.”

–Tim Erickson, Executive Director of CURE Uganda

Beyond the operating room, CURE Uganda also offers these families comprehensive care that treats the body, mind, and spirit—including prayer, counseling, and encouragement. This creates a space where children and families feel seen, supported, and loved.

This compassionate approach is especially important for families burdened by stigma or fear surrounding their child’s condition. And with safer procedures, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays thanks to the new system, children can return home sooner and are more likely to retain vital functions such as mobility, speech, and cognition. It restores not only health but also hope for a better future.

Top: The surgical staff at CURE Uganda watch a demonstration of the Brainlab neuronavigation system.

Bottom: The Surgical Navigation Technology team hands over the new Brainlab system to the CURE Uganda team.

Feature Article

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trusting in God Mercy’s brain tumor battle hen six-year-old Mercy first arrived at CURE Uganda, she carried more than just the weight of a tumor on her forehead; she carried the burden of being left out. “The bump made me uncomfortable,” she recalled softly. “Most of the time, people would stare and point at me.”

Her peers’ whispers made her too shy to talk or play, and her once cheerful personality faded behind fatigue, headaches, and isolation.

hope amid a scary diagnosis Mercy’s journey began at age three, when her mother, Stella, sent her to live with her aunt Phiona so she could attend school closer to their home. It seemed like a practical choice, but within months, Mercy’s health began to decline. Fevers came and went. She grew tired and withdrawn. Despite trips to local clinics, nothing seemed to help. Watching Mercy’s strength slip away without answers was heartbreaking for her family.

Eventually, a doctor referred them to CURE Uganda, where scans revealed the cause of her suffering: a brain tumor, which was, thankfully, benign. The news was devastating, yet it also brought clarity.

“Finally, there was an answer. Finally, there was hope,” Phiona remembered.

At CURE, neurosurgeons performed a delicate and complex craniotomy to remove the tumor. She was then closely observed in the ICU until she was well enough to be moved to the regular ward.

Patient Story

But Mercy’s post-surgery recovery wasn’t just physical.

Surrounded by CURE’s dedicated spiritual ministry team, she and Phiona were embraced with prayer, counseling, and Jesus’s love.

Time in the playroom and the chapel also helped ease Mercy’s worries.

“My [aunt] and I couldn’t miss chapel,” she recalled.

“There is a song [she] used to sing called ‘Obangana inimara’ (My God, you love me) . . . I still love it because it reminds me how God loves me and knowing that God was with me the whole time.”

Finally, Mercy became well enough to complete her healing at home. But just two months later, she was readmitted to CURE Uganda. The tumor was back.

partnering for complete healing When the tumor returned, CURE’s surgeons operated again, partnering with specialists at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), where she underwent chemotherapy to reduce the odds of the tumor returning.

“Mercy’s case has required multidisciplinary care,” explained Dr. Emmanuel Okello, a Medical Officer at CURE Uganda. “She has responded well to surgery, and while she remains under close observation, her future looks bright.”

Today, Mercy is home and back in school, her confidence restored. “My friends keep telling me how beautiful I look now,” she said, beaming. “It makes me feel loved and confident!”

She dreams of becoming a doctor one day, inspired by the compassionate care she experienced.

For her family, Mercy’s healing has been life-changing.

“Before, we were hopeless and scared,” said Phiona.

“But now, seeing her healthy and happy, I just feel grateful. The donors didn’t just help Mercy—they lifted a heavy burden from our entire family.”

Mercy continues to undergo treatment and close monitoring by the multidisciplinary team from UCI and CURE Uganda. With the support of CURE Uganda’s medical and ministry teams—and the kindness of donors around the world—she has been given a second chance at childhood.

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1. Before surgery at CURE Uganda, Mercy’s brain tumor caused severe headaches, fatigue, and fevers.

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2. Today, after surgery at CURE, Mercy is healthy again!

3. Mercy, like all patients CURE refers to UCI for treatment, is being cared for by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare workers (pictured here with her Aunt Phiona and Moses Oboth, a Social Worker at CURE Uganda).

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4. Every year, neurosurgeons at CURE Uganda perform 2,000+ life-saving procedures for children like Mercy.

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I want to help others by sharing my story.

God was with me, and I know He will be with them too.”

–Mercy

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Patient Story

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hospital leadership team

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Mom Brenda and her son Elisha during a follow-up appointment.

fiscal year 2025

Financial Activity

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partnerships Adina Foundation (Lira)

Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation Services Mbale City Health Office

Africa Global Logistics

Ministry of Health Uganda

African Humanitarian Action

Mission Aviation Fellowship, Uganda

Anne and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Musana Community Health Center

Acacia Community Church (Jinja)

AVSI Uganda (Gulu) Biyinzika Poultry International Ltd Bulamu Health Care International CFAO Motors Limited (Toyota Uganda) Child-Help International Christian Services International College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) CURE Brain Surgery Run Sponsors DC – Laundry Ekisa Ministries and Children’s Home

The Nandala Foundation Next Media Uganda Office of the First Lady of Uganda Pablo Live Patrick and Carol Bitature Foundation Ruharo Mission Hospital (Mbarara) Sanlam Uganda SHAU – Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda Smile Train Toto Africa

Finn Church Aid

Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau UMEME Uganda

Gulu Regional Referral

USRATUNA Rehabilitation Center

JMS–Joint Medical Stores

Vision Group Uganda

Partnerships

The Wapkhabulo Family

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join us refer a child CURE Uganda welcomes patient referrals. If you know of a child who could benefit from the services offered by CURE Uganda, please contact us or bring the child to our clinic during planned hours. Our contact information is listed on the back cover.

give All medical care is provided through the generous contribution of CURE donors, our nonprofit partners, and insurance programs. Children will be treated by our clinical team without charge or debt created. Please contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a child’s surgery or a mobile clinic.

pray We believe that God alone is the source of changed lives and transformed communities. Please join us in asking for God’s healing for the children we serve.

Join Us

sharing in our mission to heal the sick thank you THANK YOU for and proclaim the kingdom of God!