By Richard Onapatum
Katakwi district has on Thursday 25th Jan 2024, welcomed Oversees Pakistani Global Foundation Africa medical experts (Ophthalmologists).The event took place at the Katakwi district hospital premises.
The medical doctors who are on are three day visit to the district were warmly welcomed by HEVP Jessica Alupo and are to perform free eye surgery on people affected by Cataracts. A total of 300 people have been verified by Katakwi district medical team to undergo this operation.
Dr Icumar Omeke the District Health Officer in his speech noted that on average 200 patients are admitted in Katakwi hospital in relations to these “To break the it down the pediatric ward was created for HC1V4 at that time it used to admit only 14 children as we speak today this morning we had 88 children, that’s more than 4times the capacity of that facility.” exclaimed Dr Omeke.
He also sighted a shortage in the bed facilities noting that they also have mothers whom after operating sleep on the bed for one or two days and as new patients come in they are moved to the floor.
“In a single day we do about ten surgeries in that theatre and we have only one bed, now that the theatre is going to be used for three days. i had to mobilize all the hospitals ambulances to help in emergency.” said Dr Icumar
He suggested that the hospital should be having about 4 theatres which include. He also said according to the developed master plan, which he hopes to share with the Vice President’s office the hospital seeks about Ugshs 78BN for construction of the hospital.
The chairman LCV Katakwi Geoffrey Omolo who was overwhelmed said after a brief meeting with the Pakistan doctors,said they committed to support the katakwi doctors by taking them to their hospital in Ntinda for study tours
He also thanked VP Jessica Alupo for being a bridge for the good service delivery in Katakwi
“Your Excellency we are happy for your commitment, if not for your tremendous work this would not be possible we are proud as a district that you are our Vice President pakalast.” Said Omolo
He also took the opportunity to confirm that another ambulance is yet to be procured for Usuk-County to add on the already existing three ambulances.
Major Godfrey Katamba the Resident District Commissioner Katakwi thanked her Excellency VP Alupo for championing health as SDG 3 and also welcomed the Pakistan doctors.
“Am very excited today to welcome the Pakistan delegation for coming support us at Katakwi health centre.” said Katamba
He also thanked the Vice President for being in communication and being able to connect Katakwi to the Pakistan doctors.
“Coming to solve the puzzle of important sense of a human being is very important.” said Katamba
Katamba adds that Uganda is committed to sustainable development goal 3 which is to ensure healthy lives of the people and well being of all people of all ages and also committed to fulfilling the NRM manifesto for His Excellency the president which is also the area of focus number 2.
The VP Alupo in her remarks thanked all the patients for turning up in big numbers, she also thanked the Pakistan delegation for coming to Katakwi for the second time.
“In our culture when someone visits you repeatedly they become a true friend, I thank you for being true friends to the people of Teso.” said Alupo
“We have a big problem in the region, a problem which needs sensitization to a smaller extent. ” Alupo affirmed that the region needs immediate attention in terms of the Eye medical service
“You may wish to note that the government of Uganda like any other government in the world has a ministry of health whose mandate is to ensure that we have a healthy population, because a health population means a productive population, a healthy population means a population that is able to transform by themselves through the programs of government. ” said Alupo.
She said as government they also have pillars at the Ministry of health on preventive and curative medicine.
She adds that on preventive government emphasizes immunization against the 6 killer diseases and also epidemics which crop up like the recent covid 19, once the WHO declares the population be immunised on the epidemic the country also embrace it entirely
She also affirmed that the Ugandan President is a champion of immunization.
“our president is a champion of immunisation he sometimes does it personally.” Alupo said
She said government emphasizes health checks to the population. “We may not be different from any other country because we have a structure of a district hospital in every district and a health centre four in a county and health center three at every sub-county.” said Alupo
“We know that diseases can be managed at their respective health facilities to avoid moving long distances to solve manageable situations.” she added.
She was also quick to note that hospitals are still constrained in terms of equipment and human resource, but that does not mean as government are not determined to reach there.
The Vice President added that govt has master plans for the whole country of ensuring that everyone who needs health service delivery gets it in time and is attended to by competent qualified health workers
She urged all women to attend antenatal care.”expectant mothers must deliver at the health facility.” she said
She also says that the population should exercise, eat healthy to avoid lifestyle diseases, “the fortunate bit is that we have a variety of dishes which are vegetarian which help in boosting immunity. much as you may wish to eat other foods which are not vegetarian consider more eating our local dishes for many of them are medicinal.”
She also applauded Katakwi health workers for sensitizing the communities to be and live healthy.
“Because of the sensitization you give our people,many are safe from being sick especially when you tell them wash hands, use soap, boil water, and maintain general hygiene, I want to thank you.” Alupo said
She however noted malaria is one of the biggest challenge in Katakwi and the whole country, we have many swamps being the Pearl of Africa, this many swamps are breeding places for mosquitos which habor incubation of mosquitos that spread malaria.
She used the opportunity to appeal to the Pakistani friends to donate mosquito nets and an Ambulance
“We need mosquito nets here in Katakwi, our visiors if you can avail us nets and an Ambulance we will be greatful.” VP Alupo humbly requested
On behalf of my Katakwi people,we are privileged and we say thank you.Insted of us going to Mengo or Tororo we are greatful you flew miles up to Katakwi thank you for the favour.” VP Alupo said.
She confirmed the she will return with the health ministry authorities to Katakwi hospital and see how to implement the master plan.