'Collaboration will reduce delayed medical referrals'

TORORO - Resty Nabwire, a resident of Mulanda village in Tororo district, says she had to travel about 30km to Panyangasi B in Tororo to visit her sister’s seven-month-old premature baby who was getting specialised care.

“When my sister gave birth to this baby, there was no hospital around including the Mulanda Health Centre IV, a government facility, to offer neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services and she was advised to go to Tororo where she would find those services. I run a retail shop in Mbale which requires me to keep around all the time but again I have to take care of my sister nursing a premature baby because her husband passed on before she gave birth’ Nabwire said.

Bosco Owor, a resident of  Nyangole B village in Tororo, says he had a fracture that he got after being involved in a bodaboda crash.

He needed an X-ray to detect whether he had a broken limb and also get surgical services. However, the only nearby facility was Hope Missionary Hospital (HMH) to rescue his situation.

In line with this, Tororo district health officer Josel Obbo has asked the Government health facilities and private non-profit hospitals to foster co-operation and avoid competition that can sometimes affect patient care.

He said that it is important for the two entities to collaborate because a lack of co-operation leads to delayed referrals hence impacting patients which can cause death in some cases.

Obbo said this while officiating at the official opening of the Hope Missionary Hospital in Panyangasi B on December 20, 2024. 

The Health facility, which operates under Jungle Medical Missions Uganda started its operations in December 2021 and offers free essential services, such as antenatal care, HIV testing, blood transfusion,  family planning, ARVs, immunizations, and  TB treatments with some services priced minimally to meet operational costs with the support and participation of the local community aiming to improve community access.

A patient's blood pressure being checked during the free health care health camp. (Credit: Jovita Mirembe)

During the official opening, a health camp was held where residents got free eye check-up services, pressure check-up measuring services, and teeth check and extraction. 

Meanwhile, Jungle Medical  Missions Uganda (JMMU) initially noticed an influx of patients from Kasanje traveling over 75 kilometres to attend health care in Mpigi and Butambala, emphasizing the deep healthcare needs in this region. 

“This trend led us to examine why Kasanje residents were travelling so far for care, revealing the significant gaps they face locally,” Dr  Franklin Muwanguzi, the executive director of JMMU, said.

Wakiso district chairperson Dr Matia Lwanga Bwanika, while officiating at the opening of Kasanje First Community Hospital said Kasanje town council, is surrounded by urban centres like Entebbe and Kampala whose proximity increases service costs beyond what local subsistence farmers can afford, limiting access to quality healthcare.

He said many residents endure long travel times for diagnoses and treatment, often resulting in delayed care and worse health outcomes.

Bwanika said the existing Health Centre III cannot provide essential services like emergency obstetric care, imaging, or other critical diagnostics, nor offer emergency ambulance services for transport and now can be supported by First Community Hospital Kasanje.

In another development, Kasanje's First Community Hospital held a fundraising dinner where it got   Sh 152, 531, 979 million ( $41,303) from ticket sales, cash donations and pledges of the shillings 7,386,000,000 bn( $2m needed to fund the whole construction project to expand Kasanje's First Community Hospital.

Imagination Avenue, Equity Bank Tropical African Bank, CarPlus Limited and individuals were among the people who offered pledges and cash for the expansion construction project.