Kikuube, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents and health workers are demanding for the elevation of Kabwoya health center III situated in Kabwoya sub-county in Kikuube district to the level of health center IV.
The facility receives between 100 to 150 patients on average according to statistics obtained.
Some patients accessing health services from the facility come as far as the Kagadi and Kibaale districts hence exerting pressure on the few available drugs.
The facility is also battling an acute shortage of drugs and medical supplies which has affected appropriate health service delivery to residents.
Information obtained from the health facility indicates that, it lacks essential medicines such as anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, vaccines and medical supplies such as syringes, gloves, catheters and gauze among others.
The facility last received a consignment of drugs from the National medical stores-NMS in June.
The most common diseases being treated at the health facility include pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, maternal deaths, and typhoid, among others.
Now residents, health workers and leaders in the area are demanding for the elevation of the health center to the level of health center IV to boost health service delivery to the locals.
The demand for the elevation of the health facility is as a result of an overwhelming number of patients seeking services.
Leontina Kasungwa, a resident of Kabwoya trading center says, there is need for government to immediately intervene and have the facility upgraded to health center IV given the overwhelming number of patients that flock the facility seeking treatment.
Herbert Turyatemba, the LC1 Chairperson for Nyangabi village says, they are at times forced to line up for drugs, which they don’t get appealing to the government to elevate the facility so that more drugs are allocated.
Fred Twinomujuni, a resident of Kimbugu parish in Kabwoya sub county has equally pushed for the upgrade of the facility to fix the health service gaps elaborating that, the overwhelming number of patients seeking services at the health facility has affected service delivery.
Grace Atuhairwe, a nurse at the facility says, they are overwhelmed by the number of patients who flock the facility on a daily basis seeking treatment yet few health workers have been deployed to handle the patients stating that, the facility currently has 15 staff out of the recommended 53.
She too appeals to the government to upgrade the facility and deploy more staff to handle the overwhelming patients.
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