UPDF gets TB ward and pharmacy

By Evelyne Nalule 

THE Uganda People’s Defence Forces has received a General Tuberculosis Ward (TB) and a pharmacy to cater for the army and over 10 districts including Kiboga, Luwero, Nakasongola, Amulata, Masindi,Kiryandongo, Nakaseke among others.

The chief guest Major Gen.Wilson Mbadi who is the joint Chief of staff commissioned them on Friday at the General Military Hospital Land Forces Headquarters Bombo and applauded staff of National Medical Stores and the army in the engineering department for the work well done.

Lt. Col. Nobert Kabugo the Acting Director of General Military Hospital Land Forces Headquarters Bombo revealed that the construction of TB Ward began way back in 2012 by the Engineering Brigade.

He added that other works are a result of efforts by partners such as National Medical Stores, RTI and resources locally saved at General Medical Hospital (GMH).

Lt. Col. Kabugo said because of the remodeling of the pharmacy, 360sq meters of floor space were availed for holding of items. 

Installation of shelves, louvers and air conditioning in the pharmacy, improved the safe keeping of drugs and other items by controlling the ambient temperature inside the pharmacy.

Creation of the isolation ward enhanced capacity to handle the TB patients with better infection control.

However Lt. Col. Kabugo revealed that the hospital is still faced with some problems and among them is a problem of power supply in the entire hospital. 

“The hospital was connected to UMEME supply via 50KVA transformer. This transformer was too small considering the hospital load and it blew on 2nd, May 2015. The hospital is currently sourcing power from a transformer near quarter guard belonging to a private company and occasionally from our small capacity generator. The supply in total is inadequate and frequently leads to equipment breakdown. The requisitions for replacement of both the transformer and the generator were sent out early May to the relevant offices. We are awaiting a response”, Lt.Col.Kabugo exclaimed.

Dan Kimosho, the Spokesperson for National Medical Stores said that National Medical Stores is challenged by the dollar rate which is burdening accessing enough drugs. 

Kimosho said that NMS purchases drugs from abroad in dollars but when passing the budget it’s passed in Ugandan Shillings.