Interns stranded at Mulago Hospital

Aug 12, 2014

Hundreds of medical interns are stranded after finding their names missing on the list of students supposed to begin internship in various government hospitals

By Eddie Ssejjoba 
                 
Hundreds of medical interns are stranded after finding their names missing on the list of students supposed to begin internship in various government hospitals
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Several students who jammed Mulago National Referral Hospital almost shed tears on finding their names missing on the list pinned on the notice board.

The hospital spokesperson, Enock Kusaasira said that government had taken only up to 500 students for this year’s internship, out of which Mulago could accommodate only 125.

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Mulago is only taking 125 interns this year. Several students were disappointed to find their names missing

He said the hospital had slashed this year’s intern intake by almost a half because of the ongoing renovations at the New Mulago complex.

He said a committee of doctors and representatives of the ministry of health select prospective interns who would be paid for by government.

“Mulago Hospital has been accepting about 250 interns every year but this has been reduced by a half because of lack of space due to the ongoing renovations,” Kusaasira told journalists.

He said this year’s interns will not be accommodated at the complex because their residential block would be undergoing renovations.

Kusasira explained that the renovations would affect several departments, which would cause shortage of space for patients.

The biggest national referral hospital is undergoing renovations with a loan of US $7www.newvision.co.ug/news/652985-mulago-will-not-close-for-renovations.html3m from the African Development Bank and would see the hospital acquire new equipment and increase on the number of beds in some units, including the intensive care Unit.

Mulago hospital is currently undergoing major renovations

Robert Ssekajigo, a student of Rajiv Ghandi University in India told New Vision that he had applied to do his internship in Uganda and had just flown in, only to find his name missing.

“I cannot understand what I’m going to do, but let me wait hoping they will fix me somewhere,” he said.

Denis Bukenya from Mbarara University of Science and Technology who did not find his name on the list said two students from his University out of 34 who had applied from the department of Pharmacy found their names on the list.

He said even the two were posted to Arua where they did not apply to be.

“The rest of us are just stranded here, no official communication and nobody is bothered,” he said.

Another student who did not want to disclose her name said she would look for a temporary job as she waits to be called for internship.  

At Mulago, the outgoing interns have been asked to stay for another week as they wait for the incoming to settle to begin work.

It was not yet known how many students had been exactly left out of this exercise. 


 

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