By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
The Permanent Secretary for the ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwiine Kanzila has disclosed that government funding to the eye department in regional hospitals is still low making eye treatment expensive in private clinics.
Dr. Atwiine made remarks during the handover of high-tech equipment to help in the treatment of eye infections in regional hospitals.
“Government funding to the eye department remains low. All regional hospitals don’t have sufficient eye equipment and they depend on funders.” She said.
She added, “We received donations of 15 indirect ophthalmoscopes and 30 extracapsular cataract kits from Light For the World Organisation. This equipment will help ensure continued eye health activities amidst COVID19 by limiting contact with patients. We appreciate all this support 🤝”
Light for the world, has donated high-tech eye equipment worth Shs 399 million to 15 regional referral hospitals including Mulago hospital to improve eye treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The donated equipment include 15 direct indirect ophthalmoscopes and 15 cataract kits that are used to detect and operate on the eyes.
While handing over the equipment to the Ministry of Health, the country director of Light for the world, Silvester Kasozi says the current equipment used by ophthalmologists in the hospital involves close contacts hence exposing them to Covid-19 disease.
He says that these high-tech equipment are slated to enhance services during covid-19 through the provision of eye care services while limiting contact with patients hence reducing the likeliness of covid-19.
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