Bukedea, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, announced the readiness of the newly established Bukedea Teaching Hospital to start admitting patients. During a tour of the hospital premises on January 14, Among, who also serves as the hospital director, confirmed that the facility is prepared to provide both outpatient and inpatient services. The hospital is set to receive its first patients on Monday, January 15.
Among emphasized that the hospital will offer free maternal services for normal deliveries, and other specialized healthcare services will be provided at highly subsidized prices. Additionally, mothers will receive free mama kits, with the hospital administrator billing the details for payment directly to the hospital account.
Addressing healthcare professionals newly recruited for the hospital, Among urged them to carry out their duties with diligence, courtesy, and a focus on delivering positive results. She emphasized the importance of a friendly demeanor, stating that a good smile is the beginning of the healing process.
The Speaker highlighted the hospital’s role in bridging healthcare gaps and contributing to human resource expansion through training programs. The establishment of the teaching hospital in Bukedea Town Council, located along the Mbale-Kumi highway, aims to provide specialized and general treatment for various health conditions. The facility will also house a medical school.
Among’s decision to establish the hospital was driven by the lack of specialized health services in Bukedea, where the highest-ranking facility was a government health center IV. This center, serving nearly 300,000 people, faced challenges such as drug stockouts, limited staff, poor infrastructure, and insufficient equipment, leading residents to travel long distances for better medical assistance.
The local community has expressed gratitude to Among, who is also the district woman MP, for addressing the health needs of the region and bringing essential investments. Eng. Moses Magogo, one of the directors and a representative of Budiope East County, noted that the hospital, although a private enterprise, was established to serve the local population and bridge existing healthcare gaps.
The hospital’s official commissioning is planned for a later date, coinciding with the completion of all civil works by the end of January 2024. The fully-fledged health facility boasts a well-equipped emergency unit, laboratory, X-ray, theatre, maternity ward, and other general wards.
Earlier today we did the final inspections at Bukedea teaching Hospital that will receive the first batch of patients tomorrow.
The facility is now ready to offer treatment for both outpatients and inpatients.
Starting tomorrow, all normal deliveries will be free of charge… pic.twitter.com/uVoQuOK078
— Anita Annet Among (@AnitahAmong) January 14, 2024
We also had the pleasure of interacting with a team of sportsmen and women who have an opportunity to nurture their talents in different disciplines and study at the same time.
The scholarships for talented children at Bukedea Comprehensive School will go a long way in helping… pic.twitter.com/HjYqcim5gp— Anita Annet Among (@AnitahAmong) January 14, 2024
