Hoima Regional Referral Hospital has confirmed receipt of Shs4.1 billion in wage funding, which is expected to improve staffing levels from the current 27%, well below the national average.
Dr Ibrahim Bwaga, the acting hospital director, explained that the 27% staffing level has been responsible for attending to patients across eight districts plus the city, placing a heavy burden on the limited workforce.
“The 27% staffing gap is what attends to you all in the Bunyoro region. Imagine how tough it is on our end,” he said.
Dr Bwaga noted that through lobbying efforts, the hospital has secured the additional wage allocation.
“It is hard to put it in terms of percentage, but what is going to happen is the administration will sit and decide on priorities. If, for instance, we go for consultants, we may get about nine, and if we opt for nurses, we may have about 60 staff. This is just an estimation,” he said.
He added that the additional staff will relieve existing employees of the intense pressures they have been experiencing.
“You know we deal with life, so we must be in the wards all the time, but remember we are human beings who can get tired. Many of my team are forced to work overtime, especially on emergencies, but when we get additional staff, our staff will work in fair shifts and rest,” he stated.