By Flavia Ajok
Patients at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital have no choice but share general wards with dead bodies due to negligence of medics at the facility.
The public has for months raised concerns over the state of the regional referral hospital and the services offered there.
Hoima RRH serves the nine local governments of Bunyoro region and the neighboring districts. The facility’s out patient’s department receives over 300 patients a day.
On Saturday, a section of leaders Hoima City leaders led by Hon. Asinasi Nyakato, the City Woman Member of Parliament visited the facility to assess the situation and serve delivery there.
During the impromptu visit, the leaders were shocked to find four dead bodies still in the wards that are being occupied by patients of which one was still on the oxygen cylinder with no to attend to it despite the existence of a mortuary.
Patients at the facility have told the legislator and leaders that the only free service they get at the referral hospital are the beds. Expectant mothers said they have to pay Sh200,000-Sh500,000 to access the theater for a caesarean section.
MP Nyakato wonders why dead bodies can be left in the general wards with patients for hours after one has passed on.
Nyakato says the hospital is very dirty and bushy with no medics on duty except the intern students.
Nyakato was also dismayed when she found stray dogs in the maternity wards.
Evelyn Achayo, the head of nursing Hoima Regional Referral Hospital expressed concern over the high number of patients at the facility.
She noted that district hospitals like Kikuube and Buliisa close early by 4 or 5pm hence patients are then brought to the regional referral hospital. She also wondered why the district hospitals all the time refer cases to Hoima RRH even those they can handle.
