Katakwi hospital aided with medical supplies
KATAKWI– A donation of medical equipment valued at Shs 285 million has excited patients and health workers at Katakwi General Hospital in Katakwi district.
The medical items which include; 54 modern beds, 57 modern coated mattresses, and 97 bed risers were handed over to the hospital administration on Sunday by the private secretary in charge of political mobilisation in the Office of the President, Dan Mulalu.
According to Mulalu, the items were donated by his friends in America following public outcry over the shortage of beds.
“Following the public outcry, I decided to carry out a survey at the hospital and established that the beds were not enough for all patients as some were sleeping on the floor
“Mothers of premature babies have to be referred to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital which is 34 kilometres away from Katakwi district. This is the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] at Katakwi general hospital is ill-equipped,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Simon Peter Odeng, the hospital’s acting medical superintendent was grateful for the donation.
“The hospital had been experiencing a shortage of beds previously but we are very happy to receive this equipment at the right time when we needed it most,” he said.
However, Dr. Odeng urged other leaders to emulate Dan Mulalu in supporting the health sector in the district.
“We still need more help in this hospital although we get assistance from government but still it’s not enough, we need more help from government, individuals, and development partners too,” he said.
Florence Itwala, a resident of Aleles village, Akoboi Sub-county in Katakwi district welcomed the donation, saying some patients have been sleeping floor due to limited beds in the hospital.
She said that due to a lack of beds in the facility, health workers were being forced to discharge patients and new mothers earlier than expected in a bid to create space for patients in critical conditions.
Ben Kiwanuka Angiro, the LCI Chairperson Kaimoru in Getom Sub-county explained that due to fear of sleeping on the floor, some people were being forced to seek treatment from private clinics which charge exorbitant fees.
Katakwi General Hospital established in 2004 as health center IV, was upgraded to a full-fledged district hospital in 2011 by government.
However, its structures have remained the same with no improvement apart from the staffing.
The facility which on average receives 600 patients daily, continues to grapple with a shortage of beds and other medical supplies.
The hospital serves patients from the 20 sub-counties that make up Katakwi district and the neighbouring districts of Amuria, Kapelebyong, Kumi, Napak, and Nakapiripirit in Karamoja Sub-region among others.
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