MPs laud KCCA's Kiruddu Hospital

Mulago Hospital executive director Dr. Baterana Byarugaba explaining the situation at Kiruddu Hospital to Members of Parliament during their visit at the Hospital. Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda

MPs on the Parliament health committee have applauded Kiruddu Hospital for offering better health services to the community.

"The committee is impressed by the tireless efforts of the health workers despite of the hard conditions they are working in at the facility" the committee chairperson, Michael Bukenya (Bukuya County) said.

He called on Parliament to advocate for the increased budget for the Ministry of Health to improve service delivery.

Bukenya said this during their tour at the new facility at Salama Road, Munyonyo in Makindye division.

The Katikamu South MP, Edward Ssemabatya said understaffing overworks the health workers who fail to extend services to patients.

"The committee observes a need for government to recruit the necessary staff and pay them promptly to improve services in all government health facilities," he noted.

Kiruddu has 14 clinics relocated from Mulago National Referral Hospital under the department of medicine and burns unit including; hypertension, thyroid, diabetes, kidneys, heart problems, infectious diseases, skin problems, diseases of the brain, lungs and burns.

The hospital which was constructed by Government with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Nigeria Trust Fund, was opened to the public in May 2016. The construction cost about $15m (sh38bn).

Dr. Charles Kabugo, the director of Kiruddu Hospital, said understaffing is still the major challenge at the facility, saying they get over 250 outpatients daily.

"One nurse attends to over 30 patients. Due to heavy workload, the health workers also fall sick thus affecting service delivery" Kabugo said.

Kabugo also pointed out challenges like transporting of the health workers to and from hospital, lack of staff houses, lack of uniforms and poor payment.

Milly Namulodo a patient undergoing kidney treatment asked government to subsidize their medicine, saying it is very expensive.

"I buy Heparin injectable medicine at sh80,000, Erythropoietin at sh80,000 while iron sucrose costs sh30,000, yet I can't afford the costs" Namulondo said.

"I have received the medical treatment and some medicine, but I was told to buy the unavailable medicine from outside the hospital" Janet Nambooze an outpatient said.