James Wako, the hospital superintendent says that the hospital has been using generators to boost daily operations in major departments of the facility.
The isolation centre which was set up at Busoga university premises was meant to accommodate 80 suspected patients. Days after its establishment, a number of people who met the COVID-19 definition were sent there for supposed isolation, pending testing by the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Muwanguzi adds that the isolation room at the hospital caters for only eight people yet an average of 15 suspected COVID-19 victims have been seeking medical attention on a daily basis. He adds that the dormitories at the university will provide enough room for the privacy of all isolated patients under their supervision.
The Kenyan national, whose identities have been withheld by police, is a hawker from Nampirika village in Nampirika Sub County, Iganga district, He left the country early last week and returned on Friday.
Residents note that distribution of anti-malarial drugs is facilitated through a grant from donors but some patients are instead tasked to purchase drugs under the watch of leaders who rarely supervise the progress of these projects.
David Muwanguzi, the Iganga District Health Officer, says the fire destroyed anti-malaria drugs meant for seven health centers, saying they have been receiving drugs since last week and the last consignment was recorded on Monday night.
The accident occurred at around 12.30 a.m. when a Iganga-bound coaster registration number UAT 672Q collided with another coaster registration number UAM 775 L which was driving from Mbale. It is reported that Iganga bound coaster was carrying Christians from a service at the Synagogue Church in Kampala
Specioza Naseta, a midwife at Nawandala health center III, says that the facility has been in a black-out since the solar panels which were donated to the facility by the Kigulu North Member of Parliament, Fredrick Bwiino broke down in May 2016
Patrick Masinde, the Pharmacist Iganga Hospital, says in the 2015/2016 financial year, their budget for drugs and medical supplies was Shillings 67 million for every two months.
Charles Okello, an attendant to one of the patients at Iganga Hospital, told URN that they buy gloves each time a medic attends to his patient. A single pair of gloves on the open market costs between Shillings 3000 and 5000, he said.
A family of seven people in Bukyaye village, Nakalama sub county in Iganga district survives on half a kilogramme of posho daily. In the same village, URN visited another homestead which had the same problem. Kaudah Edinansi, a mother of four says she and her children survive on raw mangoes for lunch. She says that she lost all her yields to drought.
A four year old child lost his life in a house fire in Iganga district on Monday. The fire, which occurred at about 10:30am, burnt the child identified as Muzito Kiiza beyond recognition. The child was a resident of Nkaatu proper zone 3, northern division, Iganga municipality.
With an average of 100 patients in need of radiography services each day, Jinja regional referral hospital has only one radiographer, whose capacity to deal with the demand is overstretched. Uganda, with a population of 37 million people has a total of 42 radiographers, 32 of which are based in the capital Kampala.
Iddi Bateganya, the Iganga hospital senior administrator says the hospital gets Ugx 3 million to cover all its utility bills on a quarterly basis. This includes maintenance of cars, generators, and water, Fuel and electricity bills. According to Bateganya, the money is not enough to clear the bills which stretch to Ugx 7 Million.
The traditional herbalists are reported to have exhumed the five bodies of Mzee Kabi Kafuwa, Jane Wofwoa, Mutesi Namulondo, Kakaire Kakata and one Kabi who were buried in 2004. All the deceased were members of one family.
Our reporter at the scene adds that the entire building which was constructed in the early 1960s collapsed as a result of the fire outbreak. Properties which include Mattresses, boxes, clothes, beds and other valuables were all destroyed in the tragedy, he adds.
Dr David Muwanguzi, the director of medical service Iganga district has confirmed receiving the letter from the council suspending the affected health professionals.
According to Dr Amandua, China Nat Aero Tech Eng, a Chinese construction firm has been hired to undertake the renovation, which is expected to be completed in December 2014.
