MBARARA CITY, 20 December 2024 – Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital [MRRH] has received a fully equipped anesthesia machine from the Hal Tilbury family of San Diego.
The anaesthesia machine is a critical piece of equipment that delivers anaesthesia, provides oxygen, and monitors vital signs during surgical procedures.
While handing over the state-of-the-art equipment, the hospital’s publicist, Halson Kagure, confirmed that the donated equipment, valued at Shs 200 million, includes an operating bed, a suction machine, patient monitors, and other components that help deliver prompt and efficient surgical services to patients.
Kagure explained that the donors had previously visited the facility and recognised the need for specialised equipment, particularly in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, to help save the lives of mothers.
“This family visited the facility in October 2024 and was impressed by the dedication of the medical staff. However, they realised that something was missing, which led to this generous contribution aimed at improving health service delivery,” he said.
Dr. Musa Kayondo, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, welcomed the support, noting that it would enhance access to quality care across all departments in the hospital.
“This is a very new machine. It is costly and will be used for a wide range of surgical procedures,” Dr. Kayondo remarked.
He added that the machine would also be used to train medical students at Mbarara University of Science and Technology [MUST] and other students attached to the hospital.
Associate Professor Joseph Ngonzi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at MUST, stated that their medical students would gain exposure to anaesthesia delivery, patient monitoring, and various anaesthesia techniques under the close supervision of senior lecturers.
However, he lamented the poor handling of medical equipment, which impacts the longevity of such expensive machinery within the facility.
“All clinicians and non-clinical staff working in the theatre must undergo user training, as we are tired of losing irreplaceable, high-value equipment due to poor handling,” Ngonzi said.
Deus Twesigye, Acting Director and Senior Consultant General Surgeon, commended the benefactor family for making a significant impact on the lives of many Ugandans.
He stressed that the donated machine would ensure that all eight operating theatres are fully operational.
“Currently, we have only seven operating theatres; the others have been out of use due to the lack of functional anaesthesia machines,” Twesigye said.
He noted that the new machine would improve patient care by enhancing safety, comfort, and the confidence of surgeons.
Currently, it is estimated that MRRH’s catchment area includes five million people, a figure far exceeding that of its counterparts. This is due to the fact that the hospital receives patients not only from the Ankole catchment area but also from other regional referral hospitals, refugee communities, and neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-hospital-receives-shs-70mln-ultrasound-scan/
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