Manjeri Nasanga, a caregiver in the male ward, says that patients are worried about staying in the dilapidated ward where the ceiling may collapse on them. She adds that they are excited to learn that a new ward is under construction to relieve them of their fears.
Left is a rotten ceiling of the matenity ward that is on the verge of collapsing and Right is the outside appearance of the ward.photos by Davis Buyondo
Kakuuto Health Centre IV authorities are planning to temporarily relocate patients from the dilapidated general ward ahead of the March-May rainy season.
Dr. Alloysious Musoke, the In-charge Kakuuto HCIV, says that this is a disaster preparedness plan for the safety of the patients during the rainy season.
This follows predictions by the Uganda Meteorological Authority indicating the seasonal rainfall may be prolonged, which may further damage the dilapidated structure.
Musoke explains that they are making the plans not to be caught by surprise, adding that they will not risk keeping patients in a ward whose ceiling and roof are about to cave in.
The general ward comprises the section for male and female patients. The ceilings of both sections are rotten and hanging loose thereby posing a threat to the lives of the patients, health workers, and caregivers.
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Musoke attributes the poor state of the building to the September 10, 2016 earthquake, which left several cracks on the walls and ceilings hanging.
A new general ward is under construction for the health facility to relocate the patients. The construction will be implemented in two phases under the Central Government Capital Development grant.
According to Musoke, the new block will cost about 500 million Shillings, adding that the first phase of the construction cost 300 million Shillings while the second phase of roofing and completion will take 200 million Shillings.
He explains that the new block will house three sections including the male, female and pediatric (children) sections.
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Manjeri Nasanga, a caregiver in the male ward, says that patients are worried about staying in the dilapidated ward where the ceiling may collapse on them. She adds that they are excited to learn that a new ward is under construction to relieve them of their fears.
Last year, a delegation of MPs led by Fortunate Rose Nantongo, the Kyotera Woman MP, and Geoffrey Lutaaya, the MP for Kakuuto Constituency, visited the health facility. They appealed to the government to do something urgently to save the patients.
Nantongo applauds the government for building a new ward block urging the contractors to expedite the project and maintain a good structural standard.
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Agnes Namusiitwa, the Kakuuto Female Councilor and LC 5 Vice-chairperson, says that they would enable all the health centres to extend effective health care services to the people but they are financially constrained.
She says that Kakuuto HCIV receives patients from Rakai, Isingiro, and Tanzania and it should have good facilities and staff to receive and safely accommodate the patients.
Namusiitwa noted that most of the health facilities in the district lack medical equipment to help doctors and the health workers to attend to the patients and appealed to the ministry of health to intervene and address the concern.
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer