By Aggrey Twesigye
www.mknewslink.com
In Mbarara—-
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has tightened security to curb the theft of valuables belonging to patients, caretakers and staff following increasing complaints at the facility.
The hospital, which serves a population of about 6.5 million people, has been experiencing congestion, with the large number of patients and their attendants making it difficult to monitor everyone within the facility.
The move follows several complaints from patients, caretakers and staff over the theft of money, phones, identification documents and other valuables.
One of the recent cases involved Obvious Turyahebwa, a patient from Ntungamo District, who arrived at the hospital through the Outpatient Department (OPD). Her bag, containing her National Identification card, money and medical forms, was allegedly grabbed by an unidentified person.
Kagure said the hospital administration used footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed around the facility to trace the suspect. One suspect was subsequently arrested and reportedly confessed to stealing Turyahebwa’s belongings.
He said hospital security was also searching for an elderly man who allegedly stole Shs360,000 from a caretaker last week. The hospital has offered a Shs1 million reward to anyone with information that could help identify and locate the suspect.
Security officers are also looking for another man captured on CCTV allegedly snatching a mobile phone from a patient near the Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday night.
Kagure warned that the modern CCTV cameras installed around the hospital would help security officers identify and apprehend people who enter the facility with the intention of stealing from patients and caretakers.
To reduce overcrowding, the hospital administration has resolved that each patient should have only one caretaker.
The hospital has also designated visiting hours from 6am to 7am, 1pm to 2pm and 6pm to 7pm.
Kagure said visitors who arrive outside the designated hours will be stopped from entering the facility.
He added that the hospital has introduced measures to make it easier for patients and visitors to identify health workers. All health workers are required to wear identification cards and clinical coats bearing their names and departments.