Walukuba Health Centre IV gets facelift

Patients and staff of Walukuba Health Centre IV in Jinja City are all smiles after Bidco Uganda Limited (BUL) refurbished the outpatient ward at the facility. 

Bidco chief finance officer Mathew Kok, accompanied by Liu Chin Jiann, the senior factory manager and Ronald Barente who is in charge of environment, health, and safety, handed over the renovated building on Thursday.

The renovation work under the company's corporate social responsibility cost over sh100 million and was in response to community needs, Kok said.

"At Bidco, we work with the surrounding communities. Having received a request from Jinja Municipal Council, we accepted to help in the renovation of this facility since it was in a bad state," he said before appealing to the users to safeguard its current beauty. 

Barente revealed that it was inevitable to associate with the health facility since over 80% of Bidco's employees reside in the Walukuba/Masese housing estate, where it is located.

Agnes Nabirye a patient and resident of Masese village said before the renovations, the place looked filthy and could easily cause more illnesses to those seeking medical care. 

"It now looks clean and gives one the confidence to come here for medical services," she said, asking for more help especially the expansion of the maternity ward.

The head of the Jinja City medical services Dr Steven Banonya, noted that the renovation was long overdue, revealing that the facility had never had any major repair since its construction in the 1960s.

He commended Bidco for undertaking the noble cause of improving healthcare service provision in the area. 

"The situation has been so bad as regards the infrastructure but with the on-going developments, the medical personnel will be motivated to give their all," he said. 

He disclosed that what remains to be worked on is the maternity ward and expansion of the inpatient ward. He also revealed that if all goes well, an ambulance will be availed to the health facility. 

The senior assistant Town Clerk of Walukuba/Masese, Abubaker Kirunda commended the different stakeholders for supporting the initiative. 

"We have always had squabbles in the different projects undertaken but with this renovation, there was unity of purpose with no politicisation of the entire process," he said.

Constructed in the 1960s, the health centre receives over 3,000 outpatients a month with over 120 deliveries monthly, Dr Banonya said, adding that it serves the people of Walukuba/Masese and areas beyond such as Bugembe, Mafubira, and Kisima islands. 

Gurcharan Singh Sambih, the managing director of Geesons Limited, which undertook the renovation works, said the scope of work involved installing a new roof, concrete ceiling, floor and wall tiles, new plumbing and electrical works.

Others were the replacement of window panes and repainting the entire building of the 15-ward building.