Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Robert Muhereza
Published on 2024-01-31 02:00:00
Kabale Regional Referral Hospital has been facing challenges in providing health services after its two oxygen processing plants broke down about two months ago. Despite promises from the government, the plants have not been repaired, leaving the hospital in a difficult situation.
Dr. Filbert Nyeko, the hospital director, revealed that they are currently spending around Shs5m per month to purchase and transport oxygen from Kampala to serve the patients in need at the health facility. This has resulted in a heavy financial burden on the hospital compared to when the oxygen processing plants were operational.
Dr. Nyeko emphasized the increased expenses and the impact on both patients and health workers due to the absence of oxygen at the facility. He also suggested that operationalizing the oxygen processing plant constructed by the UPDF engineering brigade at the hospital, in addition to repairing the other two plants, would help reduce costs and improve health services for patients.
The breakdown of the oxygen processing plants at Kabale hospital has not only affected the hospital but also all lower health units in Kigezi Sub-region, as they relied on supplies from there. Alfred Besigensi, the Kabale District health educator, expressed concern about the potential health crisis in the sub-region if the problem is not fixed soon.
Records at Kabale hospital indicate that the old oxygen processing plant constructed by the Ministry of Health at the facility previously produced enough oxygen to fill about 35 big oxygen cylinders per day, while the plant donated by UNICEF produced about 72 cylinders per day.
Dr. Marion Namutebi, a senior physician at Kabale hospital, recently highlighted the impact of the oxygen shortage, stating that five COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit required oxygen.
The situation at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital underscores the urgent need for the government to fulfill its promises and address the critical issue of the non-functional oxygen processing plants. Failure to do so could result in further strain on the hospital’s resources and pose serious health risks to the local population.
