Residents of different parishes in Mukono District have applauded the NRM Government for the ongoing efforts in upgrading Katoogo Health Centre III to a well-facilitated Health Centre IV.
The efforts follow a directive made by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during his visit to the Health Centre in 2012, to have it upgraded.
The ONC Greater Mukono team, comprising Gashegu Muramira, Jamada Kivumbi, and Ekopu Ibrahim yesterday visited the Health Centre on an inspection tour and found that the government had completed construction of a new large block that will house the Inpatient ward that is complete with female and male patient wings, and a Pediatric wing.
There were also visible ongoing construction works for the construction of an Operating Theatre worth 920 million shillings, the first of its kind in the Mukono North Constituency.
“This Health Centre is not only serving residents of Katoogo Parish, but all parishes of Nama, and Kyampisi Sub-County as well as Kimenyedde Sub-County in Nakifuma County,” said Kalyesubura Fred, a Laboratory Technician at the Health Centre told the ONC Coordinators.
Hellen Namuleme, an Enrolled nurse at the health center requested Government to recruit more health workers, saying infrastructure improvement attracted more patients compared to the situation before the upgrade.
“As residents of Katoogo in particular and Mukono in general, we are grateful to President Museveni for fulfilling his promise. Since we have no ambulance, the new Operating Theatre being constructed will save us the burden of transporting patients to Mukono General Hospital,” said Gerald Kazibwe, a patient found at the health center, and a resident of Kayunga village in Katoogo Parish, Mukono district.
Dr. Steven Mulindwa, the Mukono District Health Officer, told the ONC Coordinators that; “The Operating Theatre will not only cater for expectant mothers but also for other many patients with different health conditions that need an operation.”
On top of the new Operating Theatre and the Inpatient and Pediatric wing, Government also constructed an accommodation bloc for the health center.
Meanwhile, the ONC Greater Mukono comprised of Nasuuna Juliet, Gashegu Muramira, Ekopu Ibrahim, and Jamada Kivumbi recently visited Kyabalogo Health Centre II and Namayiba Health Centre II in Nakisunga Sub-County in Mukono district but found the centers abandoned, with no staff on duty.
“We found the Health Centre open as early as 2 pm, but with no one to attend to us. Health workers should be available during working hours to attend to patients,” said Juliet Nasuuna one of the ONC coordinators.
Dr. Steven Mulindwa, the Mukono District Health Officer attributed the health workers’ absence at Kyabalogo Health Centre II to the fact that they had visited their accommodation quarters for lunch.
As Namayiba Health Centre II is not operational, Mulindwa said that the Health Centre hasn’t yet been integrated into the system for Government funding.