By: Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
MBARARA
ONC Greater Mbarara team led by Mr. Muhangi Zephline in company of Deputy RCC Mbarara City North, Mr. Kanusu Robert visited Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in lieu to monitoring and supervision of government services’ mandate.
The team met with Dr. Oriokot Francis, a Specialist in Child Health and assistant Hospital director who represented the Hospital director Dr. Celestine Barigye who is apparently out of station due to poor health.
After a brief meeting, Dr. Oriokot led the team through the hospital. All the required machines are available including the two imaging machines which have not been commissioned ie. MRI and CT scans that have just been procured at a tune of USD 1M and USD 300k respectively by the government of Uganda.
The hospital covers over 43 districts in the region with only 354 staff in all units. The team found this a challenge as the hospital is understaffed however were guided by Dr. Francis that they already submitted a request of at least 700 staff in ministry pending approval.
The hospital has an active pharmacy though lacks most special drugs which forces patients to buy from outside pharmacies as prescribed by doctors.
The cancer unit is pending construction though site space was identified and reserved. A perimeter wall is being constructed to do away the issue of Insecurity in the hospital, since they had started receiving reports of theft of hospital bed and other items.
The management thanked the office of the National Chairman [ONC] and the RCC’s office for checking on them and implored the team to always visit and monitor progress of the hospital operations.
However, they further urged to amplify their voice in following up their urgent requests as the office to enable the people get better health services in the region.
