Kiboga referral hospital gets modern laboratory

HEALTH

A modern diagnostic, research and human disease laboratory has been constructed and remodeled at Kiboga regional referral hospital to support surveillance and early detection of diseases in Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Hoima, Kibaale, Masindi and Buliisa districts.

The laboratory worth over sh100m was constructed with funding from the American government. The money was channeled through Infectious Disease Institute(IDI).

The project was conceived after realizing that laboratory services in the region faced numerous challenges, including shortage of functioning essential equipment, limited technical experts and personnel, lack of quality assurance systems and shortage of supplies.

"The laboratory has been equipped to three star levels according to the ministry of health ranking. It has been equipped with necessary equipment to enable health officers operate better as well as train and mentor officers in different diagnosis," said Dr. Twaha Mahaba, the infectious diseases project manager.

Twaha added that the beneficiary of the laboratory was selected basing on the locality, primarily on border areas, large vulnerable populations including immigrants, those in high-risk disease outbreak areas and those in areas predominant with indigenous populations.

Dr. Michael Musitwa, the Kiboga District Health Officer urged the medical staff and the workers to keep the new laboratory and equipment in good condition to serve more people.

Addressing journalists, Kiboga town council mayor Suleiman Sekiwunga, said that the laboratory has come at the right time when Kiboga is occupied by so many people who were chased from gold area in Mubende and those from the forest reserves.

"We appreciate the support from IDI, the lab is going to help us in the fight against HIV, Kiboga is a hot spot because of the truck drivers who stop to rest in the town council before proceeding to the oil city in Hoima and this new laboratory has come at the right time because Kiboga has so many people these days," said Dr. Musiitwa.

Researchers in human diseases and students on internship from medical institutions in Uganda have started utilizing the facility.

In an interview with Sunday Vision, Dr. Deo Lubowa, the Hospital medical superintendent, said that though IDI has given them the laboratory, they do not have reagents to run the equipment and investigations.

"We thank the efforts from IDI because two years back, our lab was more ill than the patients we treat. But now we have all the necessary equipment's to do the tests but we do not have reagents to run the machines," said Lubowa.

Lubowa also revealed that the hospital that requires at least 40 units of blood per week, is currently facing a shortage, with patients in dire need of it being referred to Mulago or Nakasero blood bank which is 120km away.

"I am always given four units of blood per week yet I receive over 100 outpatients every day and usually four patients are in need of blood transfusion every day. We just send them to Nakasero which is costly and risky because a patient can die in the process," said Lubowa.

He said the most affected are pregnant women, the critically ill and Children. The hospital administrators have been forced to give blood only to emergency cases as patients who need elective surgery are put on hold.

In another move, Infectious Disease Institute also commissioned a laboratory facility to Kambugu health center III and Nalinya Ndagire health center III in Kyazanga.