Local leaders in Masaka have welcomed the completion and opening of the a complex at Masaka Regional Referral hospital. On Friday, Japanese International Cooperation Agency –JICA officially handed over the complex to the management of Masaka regional referral Hospital after 15 months of construction.
The new complex cost nearly 4 million dollars. It comprises a modern theatre, 10 consultation rooms, physiotherapy department and surgical department. It also has three laboratories modern pharmacy and modern staff quarters for 60 medical workers. Dr. Richard Nduhura, the State Minister for Health and Dr. Asuman Lukwaago, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health received the new hospital complex on behalf of the Government Uganda.
Dr. Asuman Lukwaago pledged to recruit more medical workers to address the shortage of health workers at the hospital. He said the opening of the new staff quarters will enable the hospital workers to save money they have been spending on rent and transport since they are amongst the poorly paid civil servants.
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Dr. Florence Tugumisirize, the Masaka Hospital Director says they are excited about the opening of the modern hospital complex and the staff hostel. She says that medical workers have been working in poor environment which expose them to diseases.
Tugumisirize also explains that the opening of the new staff quarter means that at least 60 families of health workers who have been sleeping in dilapidated and leaking staff quarters will relocate to the new home. Florence Kigenyi, a nursing officer at Masaka Hospital is equally excited about the opening of the staff hostel.
She however says Government must equip the hospital with enough protective gear and trolleys for moving patients. Kigenyi says that they are currently lifting and carrying injured patients using bare hands which is risky.
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Freda Mubanda, the Masaka District Woman Member of Parliament says opening a modern maternity ward will reduce the number of mothers dying due to lack of equipment. She claims that recently, unidentified doctor threatened to resign from the hospital due to lack of equipment.
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Swaibu Sulambaaya, the Masaka Patient rights activists has asked medical workers to improve customer care at the hospital. He claims that many of them mistreat patients. He says with the opening of the new facility and staff hospital, medical workers must work on their customer care if they are to attract patients in the hospital.
