TASO commissions revamped health facilities in Teso
SOROTI-The Aids Support Organisation [ TASO ] on Thursday commissioned and handed over six renovated health facilities in Teso Sub-region at a cost of Shs 932 million.
The facilities that were handed over include Soroti Regional Referral Hospital Laboratory [Shs 672mln], Aketa Health Centre III [Shs 35mln], Mukongoro Health Centre III [Shs 45mln], Kichinjaji Health Centre III [Shs 118mln] and Bululu Health Centre III [Shs 25.5mln].
The renovation of the facilities was funded by Center for Disease Control [CDC] under the project ‘Accelerating Epidemic Control in Soroti Region’.
Dr.Yunus Miya who was representing the TASO executive director during the commissioning of the facilities said Soroti Regional Referral Hospital laboratory was in a deplorable state and affecting service delivery and that as such, it required rehabilitation.
“When the CDC country director toured the beneficiary health facilities, he noticed the need to rehabilitate, support and build a robust laboratory network that provides efficient and effective diagnostic and surveillance services,” said Dr Miya.
On his part, Dr. Ben Watmon, the director Soroti Regional Referral Hospital applauded the US government for the support, saying the upgrade of the laboratory is important since diagnostic services have become a basic requirement in providing effective and efficient medical services.
He said the renovation of the laboratory is also timely since the hospital has been approved as a teaching hospital for Soroti University.
Watmon urged staff in the hospital to serve the community by offering quality services. “Let the services be totally free and acceptable. It should serve the last man beyond the tar,” he said.
Dr. Charles Olaro, the director of curative services at the Ministry of Health said the renovated laboratory should now be able to carry out timely testing and issuing of results.
Dr. Arthur Fitzmaurice, the senior health scientist at CDC said the US government since 2007 has been supporting the Ministry of Health to build a laboratory network in the country with the capacity to provide diagnostic and surveillance services.
Thomas Ebwalu, the technical director Canti Lever Construction Company that was undertaking the renovation works, said they did the work following guidelines and standards provided by the Ministry of Health.
New equipment like biosafety and autoclave machines were installed in the renovated laboratory.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 2
