Govt will not abandon health professionals - Museveni

By Vision Reporter 

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has assured the governing council of Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences – Mulago, that Government was committed to uplift the quality of health care and developing health professionals in the country.

Museveni who was commissioning a laboratory block at Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences-Mulago, said the Ministry of Education has been given resources to advance the teaching of sciences including health training. 

The President was represented at the function by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

Currently, Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences-Mulago, is the largest Health Training institution in the country in terms of numbers of students and the range of programmes. 

The capacity of the institute is 2000 students distributed among 21 programmes which include Medical Laboratory Technology, Clinical and Community Nutrition, Dental Technology among others.

The President noted that there was need to increase the number of graduates from these programmes to cover the overwhelming staffing gaps in the district health units. 

“Government will work out appropriate motivation programmes which will keep these workers in the health units all over the country”, he said.

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Museveni said the commissioning of the facility was a testimony that the NRM Government was serious about developing research skills. 

“The current and future Health problems of our people can be best handled with the use of information generated from research” he said, adding “This institution is encouraged to utilize this building to the maximum and increase the research skills among Health Professionals”.   

He said construction of the building cost Shs2.96b, funded by the government of Uganda from the consolidated fund. 

“This demonstrates the fact that our economy has improved. We can now take on big projects without foreign support”, Museveni noted.

The Principal of the Institute Dr. Rwendebo Wilson hailed government for achieving such a level of economic growth where big projects are being exclusively funded by Government. 

He said the building was supervised by the Construction Management Unit of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports.  It will accommodate 12 teaching laboratories.

He requested Government for funds to purchase the necessary equipment and instruments for the 12 laboratories estimated at 7 billion shillings. 

The Institutional Master plan which will include construction of a girl’s hostel, staff houses among others was also unveiled.