The Ministry of Health, through the Communication Office, is currently in Kabale on a fact-finding mission to assess government projects at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital. The hospital serves as a referral point for districts like Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukiga, Rubanda, and Rukungiri, which are under the Kigezi sub-region.
The Ministry of Health Communication Office, headed by the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, is in Kabale to inspect government projects such as the hospital laboratory, operations of the ICT scan, and the ongoing construction of the Intensive Care Unit.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, notes that the Ministry is in the process of documenting key government investments, adding that they have made significant investments in health infrastructure in order to equip hospitals. He adds that during the visit, challenging issues like electricity and internet will be reported back to the responsible departments at the Ministry.
Ainebyoona adds that visiting different referral hospitals has been ongoing, stressing that they hope to continue to other districts.
“We are documenting progress of different government health projects but also telling Ugandans that this is what government has done in improving the health infrastructure because if we do not come out to say, they will not know,” Ainebyoona highlighted.
While visiting the ongoing construction of the Intensive Care Unit, the officials noted that the completion period is overdue since it was supposed to be handed over in September 2023. Eng. David Busige, Projects Manager of HASO Engineers, says that they are currently at 75% completion, adding that they are supposed to finish by May 31st. He further requested one more month to be able to finish, attributing the delay to additional designs that were added.
“We kindly request for more time to be added to us so that we can be in position to complete and produce good work,” Busige requested.
Dr. Moses Chelegoi, Principal Radiographer at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, highlighted that the biggest challenge they face is reporting to the center in Mulago, attributing it to unstable internet.
The mission finding is likely to address the challenges that over the years have hindered the healthcare sector in Uganda.