By URN
Members of the Health Committee of Parliament have raised concerns over the Congestion at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
The committee headed by the Chairperson, Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, visited the health facility on Thursday to ascertain the level of health service delivery.
However, upon arrival at the health facility, the committee members were shocked to find some patients sleeping on the floor, while in some wards, female patients were found sharing rooms with male patients.
The MPs stated that it is unfortunate that patients who have come to seek appropriate medical attention are instead compelled to sleep on the floor.
Hoima Regional Referral Hospital receives approximately 800 patients daily.
During the visit by the health committee, it was also discovered that the health facility has a shortage of anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, vaccines, and medical supplies such as syringes, gloves, catheters, and gauze, among others.
The health facility is also grappling with staff shortage that has crippled effective health service delivery to residents in the area.
Samuel Opio Acuti, the Deputy Chairperson of the committee, explains that there is a need for immediate government intervention to address the problem of lack of space at the hospital by establishing more structures to accommodate the overwhelming number of patients. He says the current situation at the facility is alarming.
Dr. Bayigga Lulume, a member of the committee, says the current situation at the hospital could compel patients and their attendants to contract other diseases if not immediately managed.
He wants the government to upgrade and fully equip the lower health facilities in the region with enough drugs and staff to de-congest Hoima regional referral hospital.
Benard Sekyanzi Kirya, a member of the committee, noted that the government should immediately allocate enough funding to the health facility to erect more structures to address the problem of congestion and overcrowding.
Dr Ibrahim Bwaga, the Acting Hoima Regional Referral Hospital director, noted that the health facility is facing several challenges, including a lack of enough drugs, space, human resources and underfunding, among others that he says need to be addressed immediately.
He explains that, although the facility receives medicine from the National medical stores promptly, the drugs are finished within three weeks given the huge numbers of patients that flock the facility seeking medical attention.
He further explains that the current staffing level at the regional referral hospital stands at 26 percent, adding that all these issues need to urgently be addressed if appropriate health service delivery is to be offered to residents in the region.
He equally says the inadequate budget for medicines and sundries has resulted in frequent drug stock outs, and they are sometimes compelled to advise clients to purchase drugs from private health facilities.
Dr. Ruyonga said that they will advocate and ensure that enough funding is allocated to the Hospital, especially to address the challenge of space and also recruit more staf
Hoima Regional Referral Hospital serves a population of 4 million people from the nine districts of Hoima, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Kakumiro, Kagadi, Kibaale, Masindi, Kikuube, and Hoima City.
Patients as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also get treatment from the health facility.
The health facility also attends to refugees from Kyangwali and Kiryandongo settlement areas and those from the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC, putting a burden on inadequate resources like medicines, ward space, and blood, among other services.
British American Tobacco established Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in 1910 as a dispensary in 1935. Â It was later elevated to a district hospital, and in 2004, it was upgraded to a regional referral hospital.
