Following the double flash floods that hit Kasese District early this month sweeping away infrastructure and most of the equipment’s of Kilembe Mines Hospital, the Kasese Catholic Diocese resolved to temporarily shift the facility to Kasese Town.
The relocation of Kilembe Mines Hospital to Kasese town has angered residents of Kilembe Sub County.
Floods hit Kasese District two weeks sweeping away all the buildings
of Kilembe Mines Hospital. The floods washed away the medical store,
kitchen, surgery rooms, private wards, and the drug store.
Kasese Catholic Diocese then resolved to shift the facility to Kasese Town. The
hospital is now housed at St Michael Kindergarten and Day Care Centre and
Kasese Catholic Social Services Hall.
However, the residents argue that the hospital has been relocated to an area that is not easily accessible.
Patrick Shamutsangira a resident of Masule village in Kilembe says
that they have accessing health services at Kilembe mines hospital since the
area lacks adequate health facilities. He says that residents residents can't trek for more than 8 kilometres
to Kasese town to access medical services.
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Walyuba Kule another resident says that the absence of the hospital in the
area will have a huge impact on the general health services of the community. He
wants the district authorities and the management of the hospital to explain to
the community the future of the facility.
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Patience Mbambu, a resident of Masule village, says that it has
been easy for pregnant women to access antenatal services at the facility. She
wants the government to urgently renovate the hospital.
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Modesto Kamaate the chairperson for Kilembe sub-county notes that
people who have been operating businesses near the hospital will struggle to
survive.
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But the Kasese Municipality Godfrey Kabyanga, says that the relocation
is temporary to allow renovation of the destroyed structures. He, however,
declined to reveal when the renovation of the facility will start.
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Onesmus Kibaya, the hospital administrator says that in the
meantime, the facility will operate without placenta pits, incinerators and
standby generators that were washed away by floods.
The hospital located on the banks of River Nyamwamba, is
prone to flooding. In May 2013, the hospital was closed for three months after it was hit by floods.
