RUKUNGIRI- Residents of Bugangari and Bwambara Sub counties have a reason to smile during this Christmas festival after the government allowed upgrading Bugangari health Centre 1V to a nearby hospital.
Residents of Rukungiri district have been crying for a district hospital since the year 2000 after Kanungu district was curved out of Rukungiri and the district hospital of Kambuga finds itself in Kanungu district.
The security Minister also Rujumbura Member of Parliament, Jim Muhwezi delivered the equipment on Sunday to turn Bugangari health Centre to Sub hospital.
“This equipment we have delivered today is for the district hospital but will make this health Centre a sub hospital as you will get most of the services in the hospital from here,” he said.
Jim Muhwezi thanked president Yoweri Museveni, health Minister Dr. Ruth Aceng and permanent secretary; Dr. Diana Atwine for allocating the equipment worth millions of money to this facility.
“For the elders who are here you know this health facility was supposed to be at district where there was headquarters for Rujumbura county but i diverted it here because i knew how people in this rift valley was suffering with malaria and expectant mothers going to Rukungiri to deliver,” he said.
Muhwezi said the facility will help residents of Bwambara and Bugangari who have been travelling long distances to look for this facility on cost in private hospitals.
He said among the equipment there is a set of Ultra sound scan machines which will be stationed here and a mobile which will be used in outreach. There is also a set of incubators for premature, Anaesthesia Machine, Surgical table, Delivery beds, and Infant warmer among others.
“I was told we were losing many premature babies as the only facility was in Nyakibale hospital about 20km away and which is not free,” he said.
Muhwezi said the structure of health Centre 1V does not have experts to use some of the machines but as leaders they will hire experts to work on them as the government recruits permanent staff.
The in Charge Bugangari health Centre 1V; Dr. Willy Rukundo said they have been registering over 200 deliveries every month and out of that number between 30 to 40 would give birth through caesarean section.
“With these equipment the number of patients and deliveries will double and will need extra staff to handle them,” he said.
He added that they also get patients from other sub counties of Nyakagyeme; Ruhinda and parts of Kanungu.
Jastone Byamukama the LC111 chairperson commended the work done by the staff. He said that they like their job and they are always available whenever they are needed.
“We thank the health department at the district for giving us these members and majority of them are born here which we think is a reason for their working hard,” he said.
Jim Muhwezi gave them 3 goats worth shs 1m to celebrate with them during this Christmas festival for loving their work.
“Government has enhanced health workers’ salaries there is no reason why they should not work and if we get some staff part timing in other clinics without concentrating on government work will be dismissed and be replaced immediately,” he said.
Muhwezi said that there are health personnel in the Country unlike in the past when there was shortage of surgeons and other specialized personnel. “Now when we dismiss you today the next day applications will be very many to fill your position,” he said.
What mothers say
Justine Kembabazi who gave birth to a baby boy a day before said her first born was delivered in a private hospital and paid a lot of money but since then its 3rd time she delivers at Bugangari health Centre 1V at no cost at all.
Santrine Naturinda of Rwemirongo said they are happy to have a scan machine at their doorstep which they have been hunting in private clinics and hospitals at a high cost plus transport to and fro.
Emily Ahereza said that they thank the government especially their member of parliament Jim Muhwezi for lobbying all these things which are not easy to get.
This health Centre was here before I was born but this machine has just come, they have been operating without and yet it’s very important.
