A plan is in the pipeline to upgrade Bunagana Health Centre II to a Health Centre III, and Muramba to a Health Centre IV status, Bufumbira South Member of Parliament, Alex Niyonsaba Seruganda has said.
Seruganda, on Monday, June 17, told a gathering in Bunagana Town Council that he had written to the Ministry of Health requesting for the upgrade of the health facilities.
He was speaking as State Minister for Defence, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, commissioned a General Ward at Bunagana Health Centre II.
Constructed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade at Shs558 million, the ward will serve admitted patients.
The Kisoro District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Stephen Nsabiyumva, did not explain how a Health Centre II, with limited staff, would conduct deliveries and admissions. These services are usually reserved for Health Centre IIIs and others, which have a higher number of staff and facilities.
But Hon Niyonsaba said he was hopeful after writing to the ministry of health requesting for the upgrade of Bunagana Health Centre II to Health Centre III and Muramba Health Centre III to a Health Centre IV as well.
He spoke of several engagements he had with officials from the Ministry over the same.
A letter seen by Voice of Muhabura, written in January 2022, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, reminded the office that Bunagana Town Council had no Health Centre III, as opposed to the Ministry’s Policy.
Niyonsaba’s letter, quoted Kisoro District Council’s minute in its sitting on 29th March 2021, which resolved that Bunagana Health Centre II gets an upgrade due the unending DRC refugee crisis.
Records indicate that Bunagana usually runs out of most essential medical supplies in the first month, before the next distribution gets due. This is a result of the growing population of Bunagana Town Council, and influx of the Congolese, either as foreigners or as refugees.
But Niyonsaba says the established general ward is an indicator of a progressive upgrade of the facility.
“When I requested for the upgrade of Bunagana and Muramba, refugees were already here. That’s why Bunagana got priority and this ward is testament to that. We have been assured that works to upgrade Muramba to a Health Centre IV will begin next year.” Niyonsaba remarked.
During Monday’s commissioning, State Minister for Defense, Hon Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, noted that time was ripe for Bunagana to get a Health Centre III.
She pledged her commitment to see this achieved.
Nyirabashitsi, also the Kisoro District Woman Representative, was the Chief Guest,
She spoke of a recent engagement she and Niyonsaba had with President Yoweri Museveni over the inflated charges meted on Ugandans by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on farm produce.
“I went with Hon Alex and we sat with the President for about 3 or 4 hours. We reminded him that the border is closed, but our people cultivate on the other side of the border. However, when they harvest their food, URA officials tax them. He was unhappy with that and we are waiting for his pronouncement over the same.” She revealed.
In his remarks, the Kisoro LC5 Vice Chairperson, Ndayambaje Alex, urged the District Health Department to push for the quick upgrade of Bunagana Health Centre III, and consequently to a Health Centre IV, due to the unending influx of DRC refugees.
According to Ndayambaje, “the refugee problem is tough. Some people don’t know what it means to host refugees who arrive with their belongings and injuries. Such people always need extensive medical attention, just like our population.”
Meanwhile, Kisoro Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Hajj Badru Sebyala, requested striking teachers from Town Councils whose hard-to-reach allowances were withdrawn to return to schools.
He had no kind words for Hon Kamara John Nizeyimana, the Bufumbira North legislator, whom, in his presence, he accused of politically rallying teachers to strike, at the expense of Ugandan children.
“The issue of hard-to-reach is a national issue, but there are teachers from one constituency who have absconded from duty. As an RDC, we believe there must have been a way of handling it internally, and we see how we can go about it.”
“But if people here call for a strike, that was cheap politics.” The RDC said, in presence of Hon Kamara, who called for the strike.
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