Atutur hospital grappling with a surge of patients with NCDs
Currently, Atutur Hospital has registered a total of 4,211 patients grappling with non-communicable diseases.
Stakeholders at Kumi district headquarters in a group photo. (Photos by Agnes Kyotalengerire)
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
Journalists @New Vision
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The Government has asked residents of Kumi district to embrace lifestyle modification to prevent the growing number of people who are grappling with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Teso region.
The spike in the number of patients battling against NCDs is straining the health system, consequently affecting the medicine budget and causing health worker burnout.
NCDs, also known as chronic diseases, are long-lasting conditions that are not primarily caused by infectious agents and are not spread from person to person.
Examples include cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, and diabetes. Other examples include mental health disorders, injuries, and conditions such as arthritis.
In Uganda, NCDs are a major health concern, with 33% of total deaths attributed to them.
The NCDs focal person at Atutur general hospital in Kumi district, Dr Sarah Asio, said the facility lacks adequate medicines to treat the growing number of patients suffering from non-communicable diseases.
"We keep diagnosing patients with NCDs every day. The numbers are growing and overwhelming the budget," Dr Asio noted.
As a result, the facility only gives them a start-off dose, yet some patients need a double dose.
She said the facility often suffers drug stockouts, and the most affected are patients on insulin.
“We receive stock, but it is never enough. This leaves the patients with nothing,” Dr Asio said.
Currently, Atutur Hospital has registered a total of 4,211 patients grappling with non-communicable diseases. Of these, 1,371 are battling high blood pressure. There is also a total of 1,322 sickle cell patients. The number of people battling against Type 2 diabetes recorded at the same facility is 488, and those with Type 1 diabetes is 135.
Those with Asthma total to 299, those with congenital heart disease are 27, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are 9, and rheumatic heart disease are 6.
“If all these patients grappling with hypertension and diabetes modified their lifestyle, they will be off medicine, and the demand for more complex drugs will reduce,” said Dr Charles Oyoo Akiya, the commissioner for Non-Communicable diseases at Ministry of Health.
Dr Oyoo said there is a need to focus on disease prevention at the community level amidst budget shortfall and regular drug stock-outs.
“We want to know what is causing the rise in hypertension in this sub-region, so we can address it,” he said.
For sickle cell disease, he said the focus should be put on premarital counselling and testing, especially for young people in higher institutions of learning.
Dr Oyoo made the remarks during a visit to Atutur General Hospital to check on the progress of the PEN and PEN-Plus programme. The visit was on July 22, 2025.
In attendance were officials from the Ministry of Health, National Medical Stores, civil society organisations and NCDs medical experts. The officials also visited Kumi Health Centre IV, Kumi district offices and Pallisa General Hospital.
PEN-plus programme is implemented by the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of NCDs in collaboration with the Health Ministry, and funded by NCDI Poverty network.
The tour aimed at reviewing the status of key activities, including diagnosis and management of NCDs, functionality and operations of PEN and PEN-Plus clinics, patient documentation, patient follow-up systems and practices. It also tracked community engagement initiatives, health education and awareness efforts and functionality of peer support groups, among others.
The deputy director at Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of NCDs, Dr Ann Rose Akiteng, said the PEN-Plus programme aims to assess the availability of essential medicines and supplies at PEN-Plus sites, verify stock levels, supply chain functionality, and identify gaps affecting service delivery.
Dr Oyoo said the top management at the Ministry of Health is strongly advocating for joint technical support supervision.
"Let us walk this journey together, and it will make a difference in regard to patient care", he said.