Tarehe Sita - military rehabilitates Tororo Hospital

PIC: Achieng inspecting the wards under renovation

TAREHE SITA

TORORO - The Rwandan and Uganda people defence force engineering brigade have embarked on the renovation of the dilapidated female ward at Tororo main hospital.

The state minister for health in charge of general duties, Sarah Opendi, said the work done, which is worth sh54m, would have been inflated to over sh200m, if it was awarded to civilian contractor.

The work is part of various activities conducted in the seven districts of Bukedi sub-region covering Busia, Tororo, Butaleja, Pallisa, Kibuku, Butebo and Budaka a head of Tare sita celebrations to be held at Butaleja Boma grounds on Tuesday.

"I wish the military engineering brigade had enough capacity, we would be offering them all the ministry construction work to build health centre IIIs in the 225 sub-counties," Opendi said.

"The Government usually spends about sh2b to construct a health centre III through civilian companies, yet the military spent only close to sh700m to construct the same facility in Entebbe," Opendi said.

She hailed the military engineering brigade for their commitment and hard work, which she said had exposed great corruption tendencies by civilian construction company.

The military engineers working on the hospital roof

"If all sectors emulate what they military is doing, then we shall be able to fight this cancer of corruption that has eroded our moral fibre," the minister said.

Opendi warned of corruption tendencies that have undermined service delivery at Tororo main hospital while assuring the medical superintendent Dr Thomas Ochar to take action before she can arrest those involved in soliciting for money from patients.

She made the remarks while launching the six-day activities conducted by East African armed forces under the theme; reaffirming the contribution of the armed forces towards regional integration for strategic security, development and prosperity at Tororo municipal gardens on Thursday.

She also launched free cancer awareness campaign screening and vaccination organised by Cancer Pulse Foundation.

The military working on the broken wall

Brigadier Micheal Ondoga, the leader of military team, said some of the activities include free eye clinic, HIV/AIDS testing, dental service, outpatient and fumigation.

He appealed to the civilian population to be law-abiding by desisting from committing crime such as mob justice.

Agnes Nayiga, the executive director of Cancer Pulse Foundation, appealed to the Government to support them financially so that they can achieve their mission of reduction of the number of the people getting cancer, giving hope, strength and support to the affected people.

Nayiga said their main objective is to support cancer research initiatives that develop and test intervention for cancer control in the country, advocate for both cancer care and prevention and provide psychosocial support to cancer patients through increased community awareness.