IGANGA — Iganga District is grappling with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with diabetes, hypertension, cancer and sickle cell disease accounting for an increasing share of deaths and hospital admissions.
Health officials say poor screening, late diagnosis and limited diagnostic equipment have left many residents unaware of their conditions until complications develop, increasing treatment costs and placing additional pressure on health facilities.
In a bid to address the challenge, the Smart Africa Village Development Consortium (SADO), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has commenced construction of a modern diagnostic centre at Iganga General Hospital.
The facility will include a dental unit and dental X-ray services, expanding access to specialised healthcare services within the district.
According to the Ministry of Health, non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory illnesses account for more than 40 per cent of deaths in Uganda.
Limited screening and specialist care have meant that many patients are diagnosed only after their conditions have advanced.
During a district council sitting, local leaders noted that non-communicable diseases are increasingly straining families and health services in Iganga, with dozens of deaths recorded annually.
Iganga General Hospital Superintendent, Dr. Anni Amatte, said the hospital has long struggled with limited capacity to conduct advanced diagnostic tests and imaging procedures.
"We diagnose NCDs late in Iganga because patients come late and because when patients come, we have not been having the ability to do some tests and imaging. However, I am glad to say that the laboratory has improved its testing capacity. With SADO providing the hospital with a new diagnostic unit, patients we have been referring to Jinja or Mulago will now be diagnosed in Iganga Hospital," Dr. Amatte said.
Speaking during the council session, Dr. Nelson Muzira, Executive Director of the Smart Africa Village Development Consortium, said the hospital will receive a wide range of modern diagnostic equipment.
The equipment includes a digital X-ray machine, ultrasound scanners, a CT scan, a mammogram and an endoscopy unit.
"They will be able to diagnose complex conditions instead of referring patients elsewhere. The hospital will also receive a dental unit equipped with a modern dental chair and dental X-ray," Muzira told Nile Post.
The Ministry of Health Assistant Commissioner for Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Gerald Mutungi, urged residents to adopt healthier lifestyles by maintaining balanced diets, undertaking regular medical check-ups and engaging in physical exercise.
District leaders, led by Speaker Bernard Mugoya, welcomed the development, saying it demonstrates a commitment to strengthening local health infrastructure and bringing specialised medical services closer to the people.
They expressed optimism that the new diagnostic centre will reduce referrals, improve early disease detection and enhance healthcare outcomes for residents across Iganga and neighbouring districts.