Buyiga Island gets sh1.8bn health facility

By Jeff Andrew Lule

 

FLORENCE Kushemererwa 34, a resident of Buyiga A, on Buyiga Island, Mpigi district, had to be rushed across Lake Victoria to have a safe delivery at Mpigi hospital, when she developed a complication at their small health facility.

 

Narrating her experience to the minister of trade also area MP Mawokota North Amelia Kyambadde who was visiting the Island, Kushemererwa said the existing facility cannot help in complicated matters.

 

Many here have gone through similar experiences for better health care, but this seems to be coming to an end, after they got a new facility on the island.

 

The magnificent facility worth sh2bn has four unit houses each accommodating two medical staff, a lab, two consultation rooms, maternity wing,  general admission ward, two water tanks (10,000 litres each), post natal section, children, female and male wards, a special outpatient section, counseling rooms and modern toilet facilities.

 

The facility was constructed by Government following Kyambadde's demand after ascertaining the situation on the island in 2011. The construction of the centre was also started in 2011.

 

Harriet Namulindwa a senior midwife at the current health centre II, only catered to simple cases with only one deliverly bed. 

 

"We expect more eight delivery beds. We shall also be able to admit people with special cases. Previously people had to be taken off the island to Gombe or Mpigi for special treatment," she added.

 

However, Namulindwa said many women still shun antenatal services. "Many deliver home while others fail due to long distances," she said.

 

The only facility on the island caters for over 3,000 from six villages, in Buyiga A, B, C,  Kabudindiri, Kyuma and Bagidaabi.

 

Malaria remains the common epidemic on the island because many people do not sleep under mosquito nets. Majority still face the problem of typhoid due to lack of clean water.

 

"We get between 250 and 300 patients daily with malaria and typhoid. But we are trying to sensitize them about the importance of mosquito nets," she said.

 

Kyambadde said she intervened after realizing that many mothers were dying due to lack of quality services.

 

"With this now we hope to improve services here. We are going to see how we can improve the issue of transport because some villages are very far from the facility," she added.

 

A patient from Buyiga A has to move about seven kilometers to the facility.

 

Kyambadde said the new centre will ensure easy and improved access to health care services on the Island and the growing population in the area by attending to a variety of ailments in existence.

 

Francis Okiring, a manager with Eastern Builders and Engineers, the contractors of the project, said 98% of the work is complete. "We are only waiting for Solar Panels and other equipment. This is one of the best facilities in the country. It is going to help even those beyond the island," he said.

 

The committee chairman of the facility, Robert Sentongo said many people been dying due to lack diagnosis to know what they are suffering from.

 

"We are happy that we are going to get a fully-fledged laboratory. Previously everything was guess work and related to malaria without any diagnosis done," he said.

 

Scovia Namugabi a resident of Buyiga B, applauded government for the facility and Kyambadde for her efforts.