By Alex Byakatonda
apearlnews.com
The new Management Board for Kabale regional referral hospital was
Monday 06th September 2021, sworn in by the Kabale grade one
Magistrate, Isaac Rukundo and inaugurated by the state minister for
general duties, Annifa Bangirana Kawooya.
Each of the board members
took oaths of allegiance and secrecy, at a function that was held at
Cephas Inn hotel in Kabale municipality.
The inaugurated members included Dr.Ananias Muhunde, as the board
chairperson, the Kabale regional referral hospital director Dr. Sophie
Namasopo, as the secretary to the board, the commissioner National
disease control in the ministry of health Dr. Patrick Tusiime, the
Acting Kabale district health officer, Alfred Besigensi and the dean
of medical school at Kabale University, Dr. Sam Tumwesigire,
Others are, Rita Elizabeth Biringiro, Kenneth Mutungi, Zachary
Biririmana, Sarah Mulongo, a senior pharmacist at Kabale district
health officer, Rodney Tibaruha Tabaruka, and the Principal Nursing
officer at Kabale regional referral hospital Lamunu Florence Okello.
The new board takes over from the old board, was chaired by Dr. Francis
Mwesigye Runumi, whose tenure expired in December 2020. The other
members of the old board included Rev. Ezra Bikangiso, Donati
Ruhamyampaka and Dr Patrick Tusiime.
Others are, Albert Mutungwire
Matsiko, Fidel Niringiye, Timothy Nkensiga, Canon Ben Bwagi Rulonga,
Dr. Alex Andama, Edward Kabuye, Christine Susan Akurut, Sister
Immaculate Mandera and Lunciata Kamateka.
Speaking during the swearing-in, the Kabale regional referral hospital
director, Dr. Sophie Namasopo, said that the hospital is in the process
of developing the five-year strategic development and master plan,
aimed to guide them in the management of the hospital, which has been
approved by the National Planning Authority.
She, however, said that
the hospital faces challenges, ranging from high numbers of Covid
patients-45 in admission, shortages of medicines, the inadequate wage for
staffs and supplies and high electricity bill exacerbated by the
oxygen plant, which consumes high electricity.
The new hospital management board chairperson, Dr. Anania Muhundo,
noted that their role is to forge an amicable relationship between
the hospital and members of the public.
He expressed dismay that the
the current crop of medical officers have become unethical, observing
that the remnants of ethical health practitioners can easily be
classified as endangered species.
Dr. Muhundo added that there is a new
breed of smart doctors, who do miss an opportunity of making wealth
out of the ill health of people.
Minister, Kawooya, said that the members of the new board are expected
to oversee the activities of the hospital on behalf of the ministry of
health for the next five years. The minister added that the new board
has an enormous work, ahead of them since they have been sworn at
time, when the Covid-19 pandemic is high in the region.
The minister
specifically said that Kabale district has been listed among high
alert districts, on the verge of registering the third Covid-19 wave.
The minister said that it’s quite absurd that, despite the country
having registered a number of medical practitioners, succumbing to
Covid-19, some of the health workers are still hesitant to observe the
SOPs, while others have adamantly refused to take up the Covid-19
vaccines. She tasked the new board to go out a preach to the public
the importance of observing the SOPs, if we are to forestall the third
wave
