A delegation from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), led by Country Director Dr Mary Boyd, has concluded a two-day strategic engagement with Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) aimed at strengthening collaboration in HIV and tuberculosis management, maternal and child health, disease outbreak response, and continuous quality improvement in healthcare services.
The meeting, held at the hospital’s boardroom, brought together officials from the CDC, the Ministry of Health, and MRRH leadership.
Acting Senior Executive Consultant Dr Deus Twesigye welcomed the delegation, highlighting the hospital’s evolution from a nursing school in the 1930s to a regional referral center serving Western Uganda and neighboring countries, including Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“MRRH has made remarkable progress since its establishment in the 1930s. In 2005, the government elevated it to a regional referral hospital after transferring it from the Ministry of Education under Mbarara University of Science and Technology,” Dr Twesigye said.
He described the hospital’s relationship with MUST as “like conjoined twins,” emphasizing the role of government investment in medical training and research in driving growth.
Dr. Twesigye also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including human resources, infrastructure, and logistics. “We still face limitations in infrastructure, staffing, and drug supplies, but the government is aware of these challenges and has continued to support us in addressing them,” he noted.
Other hospital officials highlighted specific areas of progress. Consultant Public Health Specialist Dr Francis Mugabi discussed the Emergency Operations Center, designed to strengthen the hospital’s disease outbreak response, while Consultant Paediatrician Dr Denis Nansera outlined improvements in continuity of care for HIV and TB patients through integrated systems and internal data sharing.
Representing the Ministry of Health, Commissioner Dr Stavia Turyahabwe commended MRRH’s service delivery and outbreak response, emphasizing the government’s commitment to digitization and human resource development to enhance healthcare outcomes.
CDC Country Director Dr Mary Boyd praised the hospital’s efforts and reaffirmed the United States’ support for Uganda’s health sector.
She highlighted a recently signed five-year health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, which will support disease surveillance and the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, alongside strengthening Uganda’s health system.
Under the agreement, Uganda will increase domestic health expenditure by $577 million over five years, with the US contributing $1.7 billion.
During their visit, the delegation toured key hospital facilities, including the Integrated Chronic Care Clinic, the Emergency Call and Dispatch Centre, and clinical laboratories, assessing opportunities and gaps to further strengthen collaboration.
The engagement is seen as a strategic step toward realizing MRRH’s vision of becoming a regional center of excellence in healthcare delivery.