Soroti hospital gets money for x-ray machine
SOROTI– The Imaging Department of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital will this year get a new x-ray machine, two years after the one that was operating broke down. This is after the hospital received a cheque worth Shs 600 million to buy the machine.
The State Minister in charge of Teso Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister Dr. Kelement Ongalo Obote handed over the cheque on Tuesday to the hospital’s director Dr. Ben Wakmon.
“Originally this money was meant for the pediatric ward then I was told you needed an x-ray machine urgently and I had to append my signature to validate that change. My goal is to let the public know that we have given you the money,” Ongalo said.
The Imaging Department has been struggling to operate due to lack of functional x-ray machine and Computed Tomography (CT) scan machine.
Sources within the hospital said its only x-ray machine broke down two years.
The hospital which serves 11 districts that form Teso sub-region has been referring patients to private health facilities in Soroti City and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for x-ray and scanning services.
The private clinics within Soroti City have been charging patients referred to them between Shs 25, 000 and Shs 50,000 for x-ray and ultra-sound scan services.
Dr. Ben Wakmon applauded the minister for accepting to that the hospital procures an x-ray machine.
“The Shs 600 mln we have received today [Tuesday] was initially allocated to expand the pediatric ward with the highest admission of 30 to 40 patients a day. It had to be re-appropriated to facilitate the purchase of the x-ray machine to meet the social demand of the patients,” said Wakmon.
“There are categories, there are specifications, and with the money we have the techno crafts have assessed that we can get something good x-ray machine to serve the patients.”
Wakmon added that the hospital needs more than one X-ray machine given the high number of patients that need x-ray services every day.
He said the hospital receives an average of 270 patients in the out-patient department, 15 percent of which may require x-ray services whereas in-patients are 280 on average, with more than 10 percent require X-ray services on a daily basis.
“Our emergency unit sees on average 40 people and many of them are trauma cases with need for x-ray,” he noted.
He added that the procurement process for the machine would begin soon, which should culminate into installing the machine in three months’ time.
What patients say
Meldah Apio, 66, from Ochuloi Subcounty in Soroti district whose grandson is being admitted at pediatric ward said that the machine, when installed, would save them time and money spent on transport to Mbale as well as x-ray services in private facilities.
She said her grandson fell from a mango tree and when she took him to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, she was instead referred to Mbale where she paid Shs 500, 000 for x-ray services.
John Michael Opolot, with a patient at the facility, said that the development is a big sigh of relief to the patients.
“It’s been a big challenge for us caretakers of patients when they tell you that you need x-ray service. It is hard when you do not have the means to go to Mbale or money for a private facility service. It becomes very challenging and if the machine is installed, it will save us,” he said.
No corruption
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Soroti City West Jonathan, Ebwalu has warned the hospital management against mismanaging the funds and instead ensure that they procure the x-ray machine.
“I want to appeal to the people who are going spearhead the procurement process to buy an X-ray machine worth Shs 600mln. I know we can get machines in Kampala for less than that money but we are going to audit. Should we find that the hospital has procured a substandard machine, we shall arrest you the director, and those involved in procurement,” he noted.
Ebwalu also reiterated the need for the CT scan at the facility, which according to him, the Ministry of Health can purchase.
“We cannot keep on referring our people to Mbale hospital or a private hospital for a CT scan. How can a private hospital have a CT scan and the whole regional referral hospital of the government does not?” The MP wondered.
More CT scan machines
On May 10, 2022, while officiating the handover of motorcycles to LC3 chairpersons in the Teso Sub-region, the Vice President Rtd. Maj. Jessica Alupo Epel, said that government through the Ministry of Health is committed to equipping all the 14 regional hospitals with computerised Tomography [CT] scan machines.
Among the regional referral hospitals that will get the machines are; Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Arua Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale Region Referral Hospital, and Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.
“Before the end of this financial year all the 14 regional referral hospitals will be equipped with CT scan gear to boost health services,” Alupo said.
https://thecooperator.news/icyd-project-to-partner-with-taso-in-soroti-district/
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