Hospital managing Cholera outbreak battling water shortage

The China-Uganda friendship Hospital Naguru which is the centre of managing the Cholera outbreak in Uganda is struggling to operate with limited water supply.

The hospital director Dr Emmanuel Batiibwe says that half of Naguru hospital is operating without steady water supply. He says the upper side of the hospital has been forced to rely on water from the lower side which is still being supplied.

Dr Batiibwe says they have written to National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to request for increased water supply to be able to operate at maximum capacity.

Kampala has been hit by a water crisis for the last week. NSWC reported that one of their main supply pipes at Ggaba water treatment plant burst affecting supply to Kampala. The most affected areas include, Mukono, Naguru, Bukoto, Ntinda and Gayaza.

Dr Batiibwe admits that the challenge of limited water supply and staff shortages have affected the facility's ability to manage the cholera outbreak more effectively. He says the available hospital staff are doing their best in the isolation ward, despite the challenges.

Meanwhile the hospital has admitted six more people suspected to have Cholera over the weekend. This brings the number to 16 people who are receiving treatment at the isolation camp.

So far the hospital has treated and discharged nine people while five cases proved to have Cholera.

One of those discharged is Regina Nasejje. Admitted over the weekend, she was treated and is now able to walk on her own. Nasejje, who lives in Ndeeba, where 200 residents use one toilet is contemplating abandoning the area. She says she does not want to put her life at risk again.