The Joint Medical Store (JMS) has kicked off construction of a shs7 billion medical warehouse and supply centre for Northern Uganda to be located in Gulu.
Started in 1979, Joint Medical Store is jointly owned by the Catholic and Protestant Medical Bureau.
On Friday, Gulu Archbishop John Baptist Odama officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the warehouse.
“We felt this area being a part of Uganda there should have a unit(for JMS) here. This is part of the contribution of the church for the benefit of citizens. This was part of the plan and vision while establishing the church(both Catholic and Anglican) to cater for health, education and promotion of faith and spiritual growth in the lives of the population,” Odama said.
He said the new facility will go a long way in ensuring the health of the people in Northern Uganda and the neighbouring areas since medical supplies will now be located near them.
According to Dr.Bildard Baguma, the Executive Director of the Joint Medical Store, the new facility with 2000 pallet positions and 2,000 square meters of warehousing space will cost shs7 billion and construction will take between seven and 12 months.
“It will be serving community and health facilities in the region. It will be open for health facilities and individuals who come to purchase specific items (at a wholesale arrangement for individuals). By mid next year the facility should be open,” Dr.Baguma said.
