Peter Pex, RCC Soroti City notes that they have discovered many things which he will report to the president for an intervention.
By Robert Edwomu
Soroti City – July 12, 2022: Health workers at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital are struggling to offer medical services to patients. This is due to inadequate medical supplies, poor infrastructures, low manpower, and outdated and limited equipment.
The current health status of the facility that helped doctors perform wonders: operating a conjoined twin has left top government officials in a shock.
A fact-finding tour in the hospital conducted by Capt. Mike Mukula, Peter Pex Paak, Resident City Commissioner [RCC] of Soroti, and the hospital administration found several departments operating in a sorrowful state.
In a maternity ward, the hospital has only three [3] delivery beds against 30 deliveries per day leaving midwives delivering pregnant mothers on the floor.
Dr. Lillian Nankwanga, an intern doctor specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology attached to the maternity ward, says the facility also lacks an ultrasound scan machine which forces patients to do scans from private facilities.
Sister Margaret Iyaka, in charge of the surgical ward, narrates that patients in her ward always face the challenge of a broken ceiling which leaks water to the patients whenever it rains.
In the theatre, the outdated Universal Anesthesia Machine manufactured in 1945 has made the work of the doctors difficult as it doesn’t measure to the current standards.
Ken Jackson Omoding is the Senior Anesthetic Officer. He highlights the lack of suction machines, Tiltable beds, limited oxygen, and lighting system in the theatre, among other challenges making operations difficult.
In the Pediatrics Department, the visiting team established that four (4) sick infants share a sick bed with the majority being treated on the floor.
Dr. Constance Amulen, intern pediatrician doctor says the department is faced with challenges of manpower, limited space, and blood as many patients require a blood transfusion.
Dr. Anold James, a fellow intern doctor in the same department notes that the department has admissions between140-180 always against 40 beds hence causing a huge challenge to the patient-doctor ratio.
He pointed out that lack of enough beds, drugs, and blood causes a big setback in service delivery as expected.
The facility is also operating without functional X-ray, Ultrasound Scan machines, and city scan machines.
Grace Epaku is the Principal Nursing Officer at the Soroti referral hospital who reiterates that several challenges from maternity, theater, pediatric, surgical radiology, and other departments require urgent attention.
She says the ward is currently surviving on one pediatrician doctor who retired but was contracted. Epaku says the department needs four pediatrician doctors.
Epaku says in general, there is a shortage of human resources across the department in the hospital.
Dr. Joseph Epodoi, senior consultant surgeon and urologist says some of the equipment they use doesn’t match what they learned in school.
Epodoi, who was acting Director at the time of the visit, calls for the government’s intervention “because the facility serves over 2 million” people in the region.
He says the facility needs face-lifting, human resources, increased medical supplies, and new updated equipment.
Peter Pex, RCC Soroti City notes that they have discovered many things which he will report to the president for an intervention.
Capt. Mike Mukula, NRM vice Chairperson Eastern region intimates that the general health status of the hospital is unacceptable and leaders should wake up and ensure closed monitoring and supervision of the facility.
Mukula says to address the challenges; he will compile a comprehensive report to the president about the hospital for action.
He also pledged to have the matters discussed in the Central Executive Committee (CEC) so that the Ministry of Health is given adequate support.
Mukula commends the staff for adequately working in a very difficult situation that some could not manage.
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