Government to repair all broken X-ray machines

By Faustine Odeke

State minister for primary health care Sarah Achieng Opendi has said plans are underway to repair all broken down X-ray machines in government hospitals.

Achieng said her ministry has identified a company that is going to service all the X-ray machines across the country. She however did not mention the company and the country of origin.

"The country lacks technicians to carry out routine service of  X-ray machines but I would like to assure you that we shall soon have all spoilt X- ray machines repaired’’ Achieng said.

Achieng said this while presiding over the 51st Independence Day celebrations at King George IV stadium in Tororo on Wednesday.

Her revelations followed an appeal by various leaders concerning the non functional X-ray machine that broke down two years ago. She said many other hospitals lack X-ray machines after they broke down.

The function was attended by the LC5 chairman Emmanuel Osuna, RDC Damulira Kyeyune, Bishop Samuel Egesa of Bukedi diocese, Mayor Geoffrey Emokol among other leaders.

She assured the nurses that new uniforms with names inscribed will soon be delivered to all the health centers.

Achieng appealed to religious and cultural leaders to discourage girl children from engaging in risky sexual behaviour adding that Uganda is leading Africa in teenage pregnancies with victims as young as 13 and 14.

She urged pregnant mothers to stop abortion which she said contributes 30% of the maternal mortality. She said the maternal mortality that stands at 438 out of every 100,000 pregnant mothers is preventable only if mothers go to for antenatal check in the hospital immediately they conceive.

She appealed to all the parents to ensure that all their children get immunised, improve on their household sanitation and have pit latrines.

The leaders asked government to take tough action against the corrupt officials for this country to be saved from the current financial shortages.