Stay Sober, Medics Told
Aug 03, 2003
HEALTH Minister Jim Muhwezi has warned medical workers against over-drinking. He said it affects performance and puts the lives of patients at risk.<br>
By Richard Komakech
HEALTH Minister Jim Muhwezi has warned medical workers against over-drinking. He said it affects performance and puts the lives of patients at risk.
“You (medics) know very well that for the safety of your patient, you need to be clear-headed. Stay sober, be devoted to your work and make your patient your primary concern,†Muhwezi said on Friday during the graduation ceremony for anaesthesia assistants at the Mulago Nursing School.
A total of 140 graduands qualified for the first-ever anaesthetic assistants training programme undertaken by the Ministry of Health human resource development division.
The programme national training co-ordinator, Dr. Catherine Omaswa, said the country has an acute shortage of anaesthesiologist.
“There are only 12, and five of them are foreigners. Only nine are at Mulago Hospital,†she said.
She said Mulago Hospital should have a minimum of 20 specialist anaesthetists, in addition to a minimum of two specialist anaesthetists and four officers to provide safe anaesthesia for complicated surgical operations.
Of the 144 graduands, 105 were female. They are to be deployed at the sub-county health centres.
They were trained at the nine regional referral hospitals in Gulu, Jinja, Arua, Masaka, Mbale, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Hoima, Kasese and Soroti, Mbarara University Hospital and Lacor Hospital.
Muhwezi said the health sub-districts would help to decongest the regional referral hospitals.
Ends
HEALTH Minister Jim Muhwezi has warned medical workers against over-drinking. He said it affects performance and puts the lives of patients at risk.
“You (medics) know very well that for the safety of your patient, you need to be clear-headed. Stay sober, be devoted to your work and make your patient your primary concern,†Muhwezi said on Friday during the graduation ceremony for anaesthesia assistants at the Mulago Nursing School.
A total of 140 graduands qualified for the first-ever anaesthetic assistants training programme undertaken by the Ministry of Health human resource development division.
The programme national training co-ordinator, Dr. Catherine Omaswa, said the country has an acute shortage of anaesthesiologist.
“There are only 12, and five of them are foreigners. Only nine are at Mulago Hospital,†she said.
She said Mulago Hospital should have a minimum of 20 specialist anaesthetists, in addition to a minimum of two specialist anaesthetists and four officers to provide safe anaesthesia for complicated surgical operations.
Of the 144 graduands, 105 were female. They are to be deployed at the sub-county health centres.
They were trained at the nine regional referral hospitals in Gulu, Jinja, Arua, Masaka, Mbale, Fort Portal, Mbarara, Hoima, Kasese and Soroti, Mbarara University Hospital and Lacor Hospital.
Muhwezi said the health sub-districts would help to decongest the regional referral hospitals.
Ends