By Gorette Kajumba
www.mknewslink.com
In Fort Portal—
A Shs1.5 billion two-in-one maternity and inpatient facility has been commissioned at Kataraka Health Centre IV in Fort Portal Tourism City, with the government urging urban authorities to embrace vertical construction where land is limited.
The new facility brings maternity and inpatient services under one roof and is expected to improve access to healthcare services while helping decongest Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.
State Minister for Primary Health Care, Dr. Charles Ayume, commended local leaders, technocrats and engineers for working together to develop the facility despite limited land in the city.
Ayume said Kataraka HCIV will serve as an example to other urban areas facing land shortages, urging leaders to consider vertical construction and multi-storey health facilities.
Kataraka Health Centre was previously a Health Centre II but has since been elevated to a Health Centre IV, with expanded infrastructure and services.
Ayume said the government is aware of challenges facing Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, including inadequate staffing, limited ambulance services and the need for improved equipment.
He pledged government support towards establishing a fully equipped Urgent Intensive Care Unit at the regional referral hospital and said Fort Portal Tourism City will be considered a priority in the next phase of health sector development.
The minister also called for the extension of dialysis services to Fort Portal, saying patients with kidney failure currently face difficulties travelling to Kampala to access treatment.
He further urged leaders to sensitise young people about HIV/AIDS prevention, promote measles and rubella vaccination, and encourage sickle cell testing.
Ayume said Ibale Health Centre II will also be considered during the next elevation of health facilities.
State Minister for Urbanization, Hon. Mugisa Margret Muhanga, described the development as a transformation of Kataraka from old structures into a modern Health Centre IV.
Muhanga said the facility will help decongest Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital and called for similar support to improve Bukuku Health Centre.
She also raised concerns about fencing at Kiguma Health Centre II, saying community interference is affecting the facility.
Muhanga appreciated Fort Portal Tourism City Council for providing land for the project, as well as the family that sold the land to the council.
Dr. Richard Mugahi, Commissioner for Reproductive Health, said Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital has received additional specialists, including an obstetric surgeon, senior consultant surgeons and a psychiatrist.
He said the government has allocated Shs5 billion in the current financial year to recruit 126 health workers.
Mugahi added that the hospital has received an additional Shs700 million for medicines and medical supplies, increasing its allocation from Shs1.2 billion to Shs2.1 billion.
Fort Portal Tourism City Resident City Commissioner, Nasike Asumin, urged residents to make good use of the new facility and called on health workers to provide quality services.
Asumin strongly warned health workers against charging patients for services, saying patients should instead be professionally referred to facilities where the required medicines or services are available.
She also said security at Kataraka HCIV will be strengthened following increased government investment in the facility.
Reading the mayor’s speech, Deputy Mayor Margret Kabajwara said the new ward demonstrates the government’s commitment to bringing healthcare services closer to the people.
She said the city council had acquired an additional one acre of land to facilitate future expansion of the health facility.
However, Kabajwara raised concern over understaffing, saying the facility has less than 30 percent of its required human resources.
She also cited a shortage of specialists at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, which she said has resulted in some patients being referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
Peter Nkurunungi, an engineer from Geses (U) Limited, the project contractor, said the facility cost Shs1.5 billion and was completed in two phases over a period of one and a half years.
Kataraka HCIV in-charge, Dr. Kawesi Francisco, said demand for services at the facility has increased significantly, with some services recording increases of between 176 and 185 percent.
He said the facility is also facing understaffing and inadequate funds for staff allowances, which has contributed to long waiting times for patients.
Dr. Kawesi pledged to continue providing quality healthcare services to the community.
Fort Portal Tourism City Health Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Mugisa, said the new facility will provide comprehensive maternal and child health services, inpatient care, antenatal and postnatal care, as well as additional delivery space.