MorotoRegional Referral Hospitalhas received 35 new medical workers to boost the health service delivery in Karamoja region.
Dr. Alex Andema, the Hospital Director says the new staff include six doctors, two medical officers, one dental surgeon, one senior dispenser, three laboratory staff, two nurses and midwives, and one gynecologist among others.
Andema says the Ministry of Health had posted a total of 67 new medical staff but only 35 have taken up the offer. He says the new postings now bring to 142 the total number of medical workers at Moroto Referral Hospital, far below the 350 required in a regional referral Hospital.
Andema on Tuesday explained that a hospital at a regional referral level requires at least 350 medical staff that comprise of 10 medical officials of specialized grade, 10 medical officials of ordinary grade, 10 consultants, 5 senior consultants, one dental surgeon and one senior dental surgeon among others.
Dr. Andema is however happy that the new staff especially the doctors will boost the service delivery in the hospital compared to one doctor that was serving in the hospital of this level. He said he is optimistic that the quality of care, record management and management of patients among others will improve with the help of the new staff.
He revealed that the hospital has been grappling with the problem of under-staffing and that it affected the quality of their services as he was the only doctor also serving in the administration of the hospital.
He also revealed that government has a plan of doing a major rehabilitation and expanding of the hospital.
Dr. Andema said government has already secured a loan from World Bank and a new design of the hospital is being made adding that the actual work is scheduled to start next financial year.
