By Timothy Eodu

Moroto Regional Referral is currently refurbishing old beds to support lower units that do not have enough but also Kaabong School of nursing due to the limited number of beds at the school so as to improve on their services.

This was revealed to KaramojaNews by the Hospital director, Dr. Stephen Pande who said lower health facilities are operating with low bed capacity and the hospital engineering department is refurbishing old beds so that they can be supplied.

He also said over 100 beds of those being fabricated from the facility will be donated to Kaabong School of nursing because most students are sleeping on the floor, something he noted that inconveniences the learners.

According to the hospital Board Chairperson Mrs. Ms Zeah Wepukhulu, supporting facilities with equipment such as beds will boost their performance and reduce the pressure of referrals that the regional hospital is currently grappling with.

She said this will as well decongest the hospital stores and create more space for other departments to expand. The chair says this initiative will as well save government from extra costs of procuring new equipment and as such, money meant for that purpose (procurement) can be reallocated to other areas with pressing needs.

Dr. Zebdron Mulero who heads the engineering department says the hospital had a lot of old and damageg beds that can be recycled back into use and can be of help to the various health facilities within the region that are in dire need.

He said the department has so far refurbished one ICU standard bed which is being used at the Regional Hospital. However, he said the hospital needs more human resources in his department if they are to work and meet the demand of all facilities.

“I am currently working with one of the drivers’ who does welding but when he becomes busy, the workshop closes. This affects production because nothing goes on without him. My work is to formulate designs (work plan) then he fabricates. So far so good but we need more people in order to do better,” Eng. Mulero told KaramojaNews.

2018 statistics indicated that Karamoja had 89 health centres IIs, 44 Health Centre IIIs although recently some were elevated to HCIII and HCIV status, 4 Health Centre IVs, 4 general hospitals (now 5 with the upgrade of Kotido HCIV) and one regional referral hospital.

Whereas 86% of the Ugandan population access healthcare within the 5km radius, only 17% of the population in Karamoja are within the recommended 5km distance. According to the Ministry of Health Facility Inventory 2018, Karamoja communities walk between 20 and 30km to access referral services.