Develop mobile health facilities, gov't told

By Noah Jagwe & Juliet Lukwago

Government has been asked to develop mobile health facilities to reach out to the people in rural areas who have difficulties in accessing health services.

Dr. Lulume Bayiga, the shadow minister for health, said if a mobile health facility is put in place, it can enable health experts and trained health personnel reach a large number of people within a short time in underserved areas.

“On-site operations and diagnoses can be possible on hundreds of persons within the shortest time possible,” said Lulume.

He sees it as an intervention that can prevent people from dying from complicated health conditions that require an operation and prompt medical attention.

“We want those in the line ministry especially National Medical Stores to advocate for this and put it in their policies. For us at the legislative level our work is to amplify,” said the shadow minister.

He pointed out that a similar system has already been adopted in other African countries, like Zambia, and that it has worked better to the level two health centre status.

Once the government adopts the idea, he said, it will allow for access to equitable health services.

While addressing district health officers on challenges influencing medicines and related supplies in health facilities in Kampala, Lulume called on the ministry of health to emphasize the preventive other than curative aspect of the health system.

The meeting was organised by Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI).

Representatives from various health centres asked the National Medical Stores (NMS) to increase the quantity of drugs dispatched to some centres due to their capacity.

Peter Damba Mutebi, the chairperson of Kampala District Advocacy Forum, said Komamboga health centre has continued to receive the same quantities yet it has absorbed a huge number of patients ever since Kawempe health centre IV was closed.

“We have been overwhelmed by patients, the centre receives more than two thousands patients every month, yet the medicine is not enough,” said Mutebi.

He also said the medicines get finished before the next supply by NMS.