Mulago, the queen’s gift, to be rewrapped
Apr 09, 2007
Mulago Hospital is to guarantee first-class first aid services for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for November. Fifty-three countries, the majority of which are former British colonies, will attend the summit.
By Fred Ouma
Mulago Hospital is to guarantee first-class first aid services for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for November. Fifty-three countries, the majority of which are former British colonies, will attend the summit.
As the largest national referral hospital, Mulago has been bestowed with the mandate of coordinating the national CHOGM committee in-charge of first aid.
Offered to Uganda as an independence gift by Her Majesty the Queen of England on October 16, 1962, the six-floor New Mulago Hospital wing, also known as Lower Mulago, will get a facelift that will see it regain its past glory.
Since 1962, the 854-bed-capacity block has not had a major renovation leading to the breakdown of sanitary services and lifts.
“It is an urgent need that we give it a face it deserves as a national referral hospital,†says Dr. Edward Ddumba, the hospital’s executive director.
The hospital will also have more equipment for the intensive-care unit and private patient services to ensure effective and efficient medical services.
Mulago’s vision is to become the centre of excellence in health-care delivery in the Great Lakes region.
According to Eliphaz Ssekabira, the hospital’s public relations officer, “This is an opportunity for the national hospital to be prepared for emergency. CHOGM is offering the last card we must utilise to our advantage.â€
The committee on first aid is to train health workers from selected public and private hospitals in basic and advanced life support. It will also provide a special programme for ambulance drivers, stretch-handlers and give techniques on etiquette and protocol issues.
Some of the selected hospitals are Nsambya, Mengo, Rubaga, International Hospital Kampala, Kololo and Mulago as overall coordinator.
Other health service providers include Africa Air Rescue (AAR), St. John Ambulance and the Uganda Red Cross. Ddumba says the training will help health workers to improve on their skills in handling patients professionally.
“Mulago is set to change the face of disaster preparedness not only during CHOGM but even afterwards. This effort of coordination among health providers must be sustained to enhance the health system in this country,†says Ddumba, adding that carrying away the sick and wounded on stretchers from accident scenes would become the norm in Uganda.
He says at least 20 ambulances will be availed for first aid services to connect all participating hospitals, hotels, venues and Entebbe International Airport. Health workers are to be stationed at each of these places to offer effective and sufficient services to those who may need them.
Besides presidents, the summit will be attended by top business executives and prime ministers of the 53 Commonwealth countries.
“We expect very important persons during this meeting and we can’t afford to take chances. All places where dignitaries will be are to be networked to deal with any emergencies,†says Ddumba, also the committee chairman.
Participating hotels include Serena Hotel Kampala, the Sheraton Kampala, Botanical Beach Hotel, Imperial Resort Hotel, Kabira Country Club and Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Mulago Hospital is to guarantee first-class first aid services for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for November. Fifty-three countries, the majority of which are former British colonies, will attend the summit.
As the largest national referral hospital, Mulago has been bestowed with the mandate of coordinating the national CHOGM committee in-charge of first aid.
Offered to Uganda as an independence gift by Her Majesty the Queen of England on October 16, 1962, the six-floor New Mulago Hospital wing, also known as Lower Mulago, will get a facelift that will see it regain its past glory.
Since 1962, the 854-bed-capacity block has not had a major renovation leading to the breakdown of sanitary services and lifts.
“It is an urgent need that we give it a face it deserves as a national referral hospital,†says Dr. Edward Ddumba, the hospital’s executive director.
The hospital will also have more equipment for the intensive-care unit and private patient services to ensure effective and efficient medical services.
Mulago’s vision is to become the centre of excellence in health-care delivery in the Great Lakes region.
According to Eliphaz Ssekabira, the hospital’s public relations officer, “This is an opportunity for the national hospital to be prepared for emergency. CHOGM is offering the last card we must utilise to our advantage.â€
The committee on first aid is to train health workers from selected public and private hospitals in basic and advanced life support. It will also provide a special programme for ambulance drivers, stretch-handlers and give techniques on etiquette and protocol issues.
Some of the selected hospitals are Nsambya, Mengo, Rubaga, International Hospital Kampala, Kololo and Mulago as overall coordinator.
Other health service providers include Africa Air Rescue (AAR), St. John Ambulance and the Uganda Red Cross. Ddumba says the training will help health workers to improve on their skills in handling patients professionally.
“Mulago is set to change the face of disaster preparedness not only during CHOGM but even afterwards. This effort of coordination among health providers must be sustained to enhance the health system in this country,†says Ddumba, adding that carrying away the sick and wounded on stretchers from accident scenes would become the norm in Uganda.
He says at least 20 ambulances will be availed for first aid services to connect all participating hospitals, hotels, venues and Entebbe International Airport. Health workers are to be stationed at each of these places to offer effective and sufficient services to those who may need them.
Besides presidents, the summit will be attended by top business executives and prime ministers of the 53 Commonwealth countries.
“We expect very important persons during this meeting and we can’t afford to take chances. All places where dignitaries will be are to be networked to deal with any emergencies,†says Ddumba, also the committee chairman.
Participating hotels include Serena Hotel Kampala, the Sheraton Kampala, Botanical Beach Hotel, Imperial Resort Hotel, Kabira Country Club and Speke Resort Munyonyo.