Mulago Hospital to close for repairs

Sep 17, 2011

MULAGO National Referral Hospital will next year be closed temporarily to pave way for its rehabilitation.

By Taddeo Bwambale

MULAGO National Referral Hospital will next year be closed temporarily to pave way for its rehabilitation.

The permanent secretary in the health ministry, Dr Asuman Lukwago disclosed that the hospital would be reconstructed and fitted with specialised health equipment.

The repairs are part of Government reforms to improve health services in the country, in which all major hospitals will be renovated.

Lukwago made the remarks at celebrations to mark Buganda Kingdom’s Health Day at Kyaggwe Saza headquarters on Friday.

Some of the departments at the hospital will, however, remain operational during the renovation, the executive director, Dr Baterana Byarugaba said yesterday. Among these include the Cancer Institute, Paediatric and Orthopaedic departments.

“It is largely the activities in New Mulago that will be affected. The other departments will remain functional while the hospital is being remodeled,” he said.

Baterana explained that the other services would be temporarily moved to Kiruddu and Kawempe, where two 100-bed hospitals will be built. Cabinet last week approved the borrowing of $73m from the African Development Bank and the Nigerian Trust Fund for the construction of the hospitals.

Some of the patients will also be received at Naguru Hospital which is nearing completion, Baterana said.
Mulago Hospital is the biggest and oldest medical facility in Uganda.

It was established in 1913 by Sir Albert Cook and currently accommodates 1,500 in-patients.
According to Lukwago, several other hospitals will be rehabilitated, allowing them to provide specialised health services and accommodate more patients.

Under the proposed reforms, Masaka Referral Hospital which currently accommodates 3,000 patients will be upgraded to admit 7,000 patients.

The hospital will also be fitted with sophisticated equipment including a CT Scan, to carry out specialised tests and treatment.

Mubende Hospital will also be upgraded to admit 1,000 patients, while the expansion of Kawolo Hospital is expected to start within two years, Lukwago said.

The project is partly funded by the World Bank. Other hospitals to be expanded include Mubende, Kawolo, Mityana and Entebbe Hospitals.

Lukwago appealed to the public to use mosquito nets to prevent malaria, exercise regularly to prevent lifestyle diseases, and to drink boiled water.

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