MPS TO SQUEEZE GOVERNMENT OVER UN FULFILLED PLEDGES ON KABALE REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL

By Grant Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—

Members of Parliamentary on the Committee on Government Assurances have been shocked by the sorry state of Kabale regional referral hospital in Kabale district during their Kigezi sub region visit.

Kabale regional referral hospital which is one of select hospitals taking care of COVID 19 patients is currently operating with very poor isolation room, Intensive Care Unit and inadequate transport means which have triggered poor response in a fight against the spread of Corona virus in kigezi region hence putting lives of Ugandans at a greater risk.

On Tuesday 30^th June 2020, Members of Parliament on the Committee on Government Assurances led by the Nakawa division MP Micheal Kabaziguruka visited the hospital to inspect the assurances, promises and undertakings made by the government to the Kabale Regional Referral Hospital in response to the Corona virus pandemic.

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus in Uganda, Kabale regional Referral Hospital has accommodated 10 Covid 19 positive cases of which only 6 are currently active.

The Kajara constituency Member of Parliament Michael Timuzigu Kamugisha who was part of the Committee wondered how the government has given ambulances and protective gears like masks to other districts and forgotten districts in Kigezi region that border other high risk countries like Rwanda and Congo.

The Kiryandongo district Woman Member of Parliament Helen Kahunda asked the government to be mindful on the lives and welfare of health workers especially those handling Corona virus related patients through providing them motivation in form of allowances and providing them with protective gears.

Kabaziguruka promised to present the challenges to the relevant authorities and to Parliament for debate and come up with possible solutions.

Speaking to our reporter at kabale regional referral hospital, the hospital director Dr. Sophie Namasopo said that the hospital lacks a well purposed isolation room and Intensive Care Unit adding that the current ICU and isolation room at the facility are temporary and substandard which affects thorough response to COVID-19.

Dr. Namasopo further added that the hospital is faced with inadequate personal protective equipment which exposes the lives of the Health workers at the facility to the risks of acquiring Coronavirus.

The Kabale acting District Health officer Alfred Besigensi also said that the 165 million the district received from the government as Coronavirus response fund became inadequate and could not even help match the district Coronavirus expenses for three months.

Besigensi said that the district is currently surviving on handouts from well-wishers in the district thus becoming a big hindrance in the fight against COVID 19 in the district. He also noted that the district has no other designated Quarantine center if schools could be allowed to reopen since all Coronavirus suspects in the district are quarantined at Kabale school of Compressive nursing.

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