PATIENTS STRANDED AT MASINDI HOSPITAL DUE TO LACK OF ELECTRICITY

By Yosam Gucwaki

In Masindi—-
Work has come to a standstill at Masindi main Hospital in Masindi
district due to absence of electricity.
This is after an electric pole collapsed at the hospital due to a strong
storm that ravaged the district last week and disconnected the
hospital from the power line.

The hospital medical supretendant Dr. George Bateganya says that due
to the absence of electricity, most medicalequipments are not working
forcing the hospital to refer patients who need their services to
private health units.

Bateganya adds that efforts to approach UMEME have not solved anything.
Bateganya adds that patients at the hospital have resorted to
improvising the lighting system in the wards.

Bateganya is appealing to the district authorities and well-wishers to
intervene and rectify what he terms as an alarming situation that is
putting the lives of patients at stake.
A Patients who preferred anonymity told our reporter that their lives
are in danger since they cannot afford the money at the private
facilities where they are being referred.

She added that currently she is being treated at Masindi main hospital
but her baby was transferred to Kitara medical centre because there
was no power that could run the oxygen to save the life of her baby
adding that even her baby did not receive the first milk which is of
great importance on the health of a baby.
Sound byte patient 2

Another one who also never wanted her name to be mentioned said that
her relative died while she had been referred to Hoima referral
hospital noting that the death occurred after the uterus of the
deceased had bust.

HafisaKarungi the the secretary for works Masindi district visited the
hospital and noted that though women are celebrating International
women’s day the situation women from Masindi are undergoing is
alarming.

She added that she had planned a peaceful demonstration but was
stopped by the district Police commander Masindi Bosco Bakashaba who
immediately called the manager UMEME and his response the manager
said that power will be on by Friday.

She also explained that if power is not connected back by Friday she
will continue with her demonstration.

This comes at a time UMEME is threatening to disconnect the hospital
from power due to the accumulated electricity bills amounting to 100
million shillings.

www.mknewslink.com