Mulago hospital tightens security over terror threats

By Violet Nabatanzi & Noah Jagwe
 
Security at Mulago national referral hospital has been beefed up in order to avoid terror attacks and other possible security threats.
 
Speaking at a press conference at Mulago, the hospital’s Executive Director, Dr. Baterana Byarugaba, said Mulago remains one of the most terror prone areas since terrorists target public institutions and places that attract throngs of people.
 
About 20,000 people visit the hospital daily, out of which 700 go for review, 300 as emergency cases and 1,000 as visitors while others are attendants to patients.
 
He said they have increased the number of police officers to take charge of the entire premises of the hospital in addition to redeploying internal security operatives to check people entering and exiting the wards.
 
Byarugaba said they have also banned Boda-Boda cyclists from accessing the hospital. He said patients who use motorcycles can be picked from the main gate since the hospital has  acquired over 200 wheel chairs for wheeling patients who unconscious or weak.

“Legal action will be taken against any cyclist who does the contrary,” he said.
 
Byarugaba further revealed that they have reduced the number of caretakers to one per patient unlike in the past where more than five people would attend to a sick person.
 
Under this arrangement each attendant will be required to have a card which is issued at the admission table by the admitting nurse.
 
“This has already started in the maternity ward which is one of the busiest areas,” he said. “This will reduce congestion at the wards.”
 
The Assistant Commissioner support services, David Nuwamanya, said the arrangement is part of the new measures to intended to decongest the hospital.
 
He revealed that huge numbers of people in the premises have led to increased cases of quack doctors and fake security personnel who cheat patients.

“We are very optimistic that we will not have any quacks here,” Nuwamanya said.
 
Nuwamanya noted that the presence of huge crowds compromises privacy and causes new infections.