Korea rolls out sh2.4b Bukomansimbi health program

The Korea Republic has rolled out a modern referral health program worth sh2.4b for Bukomansimbi and neighboring districts, as a strategy to decongest Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.

The program which included the construction and equipping of Butenga Health Centre IV to the tune of close to sh1b, was commissioned on Monday.

The programs will serve at least 700,000 people from Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule and Kalungu district according to the Bukomansimbi district chairman, Muhammad Kateregga.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony at Butenga, Kateregga said the district council has already recommended that Butenga health centre IV should be elevated to district hospital status.

He said the Korea government will construct similar health outreaches at Kisojjo, Kibinge, Milambi, Bigasa and Kigangazi in Bukomansimbi district by 2020 under the sh2.4b budget, adding that sh200m has been set aside to purchase a modern ambulance for the program.

The Bukomansimbi district health officer, Dr Kato Tumusime, said Butenga Health Centre is the first facility to have an emergency department among other health centre IVs countrywide.

"We shall reduce on the death of our people using our emergency department. Transporting patients on emergency from rural areas to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital was complicated," he said.

He said staffing levels at Butenga health Centre has been improved to 87.7% and that the facility can handle at least 120 deliveries per month.

Kato said improvement should be addressed in the area of timely and sufficient drug availability. He noted that some of the residents have a tendency of taking drugs to their homes when they are not sick. He said prevention health programs will be focused. 

The Masaka Regional Referral Hospital administrator, Edward Kabuye, said the hospital is the second facility to receive the highest number of patients after Mulago Hospital.

He said Masaka Hospital receives at least 1100 patients daily, adding that the construction of a model health centre at Butenga has eased congestion related challenges at the hospital.

The Korea Foundation healthcare general director, Ryu Hogyum, said they will support the health sector  especially in rural areas.

 Dr John Bosco Wanyaye from the health ministry warned medical staff against absenteeism and other forms of unprofessional conduct that compromise service delivery.

The Bukomansimbi district resident district commissioner, Mukasa Kityo, said a mortuary should also be constructed at Butenga health centre. 

He said the seven acres of land donated by the Kabaka of Buganda towards Butenga health centre's expansion should be used to annex a mortuary.