There were emotional calls for completion of the new Operating Theatre at Kisoro Hospital in time, as works were officially launched on Monday.
The State Minister for Defence and Kisoro Woman MP, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi noted that the three projects being undertaken in Kisoro district’s healthcare department are a testament to the government’s preparedness and resilience in face of health crises.
She was speaking as the Chief Guest during Monday’s joint groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an Isolation Unit and an Operating Theatre at Kisoro General Hospital, and an Operating theatre at Busanza Health Centre IV.
The function, held at Kisoro Hospital’s site, pooled attendance of officials from the Ministry of Health, District leaders and the contractors.
Geses Uganda Ltd contracted the isolation unit at Kisoro hospital, while Denka Company Limited contracted the two theatres at Kisoro Hospital and Busanza Health Centre III.
The projects are funded by World Bank through the Uganda Covid-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), in the Ministry of Health.
According to Doreen Nshabohurira, the UCREPP project Communications Officer, all the three projects are slated to be completed within a period of one year.
Nshabohurira told www.vomuhabura.com that the isolation unit will cost approximately Ugx 4.1 billion, while the two theatres will cost approximately Ugx 1.8 billion.
Kisoro hospital runs a dilapidated theatre at the level of a Health Centre IV, while Busanza Health Centre IV has been operating without a theatre.
Minister Sarah, said the three facilities would enhance the competence of the healthcare system in Kisoro.
“We are not just constructing physical structures, but erecting pillars of hope and healing for generations to come…the hospital theatre will serve as a vital hub for surgical interventions ensuring that our medical professions have the necessary resources and facilities to perform their complex procedures with precision and care…”
The minister reminded the gathering that the current theatre at Kisoro is dilapidated, and risks collapsing on medical staff and patients, thus the need to speed up the works.
Abel Bizmana advised the Kisoro Hospital management to abandon the current dilapidated theatre and use other structures as an emergency operation rooms.
He said using the ramshackle room is a big risk to everyone.
“You can choose another room here and use it as an emergency. This is a big risk, because anything can happen when you’re on the theatre table.”
Dr Bahane Emmanuel, the Kisoro Hospital Medical Superintendant and Dr. Nick Muneza, the assistant District Health Officer in charge of Disease Surveillance noted that the facility admits patients that include refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.
Dr Bahane said this risks the spread of infectious diseases, adding that with the new isolation ward is an advantage to handle such cases. They however appealed to the contractor to speed up the works, saying the current theatre’s ceiling risks caving in.
Eng. George Otim, the Commissioner in charge of infrastructure in the Ministry of Health, advised the hospital management to put into use the isolation unit when there are no emergences that need isolation.
He added that the projects are a priority to Kisoro.
He asked the contractor, Denka Company Limited, to do quality work in the shortest time possible, to rescue the situation.
“The theatre is where life and death is determined, I’m going to talk to Denka after this. We must give it priority. We must give the theatre priority.” He said.
According to Otim, the Hospital management can utilise the Isolation unit for other activities if there are no emergencies that require isolation.
The Kisoro Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Hajj Badru Mayanja regretted that Kisoro Hospital keeps making unnecessary referrals to St Francis Hospital Mutolere, even for minor cases.
“Whenever we get an emergency here, I have been told that even a simple emergency, they refer…and I want to assure you that we shall provide the necessary support to ensure that this works.” He said.
Hajj Mayanja pledged commitment to ensure that the health sector runs well in Kisoro, by recruiting the required staff.
He appealed to the Public Service Ministry to remove the ban on recruitment of new staff.
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