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Katakwi General Hospital Overwhelmed as Patient Numbers Exceed Capacity

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Summary:

  • According to Dr. Joseph Emuron, Medical Superintendent of Katakwi General Hospital, the hospital has been consistently recording large numbers of patients, but the facilities remain inadequate to accommodate the demand.

KATAKWI: Katakwi General Hospital is grappling with insufficient infrastructure and space as patient numbers continue to surge, severely impacting health service delivery.

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According to Dr. Joseph Emuron, Medical Superintendent of Katakwi General Hospital, the hospital has been consistently recording large numbers of patients, but the facilities remain inadequate to accommodate the demand.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Dr. Emuron revealed the hospital’s struggle with the growing patient load.

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“The demand for health services at Katakwi General Hospital is increasing, but the current structures cannot meet the needs of the rising number of patients,” said Dr. Emuron.

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Katakwi General Hospital, which was originally established in 1956 as a dispensary and Health Centre IV, was elevated to a hospital in 2011.

However, the infrastructure has not kept pace with the increasing patient load.

The hospital had a population of 1,064 patients according to the 2014 census, but this number has since grown to 2,013 patients, further straining the facility.

Dr. Emuron reported that the outpatient department (OPD) sees an average of 4,500 patients per month, while the maternity ward admits 400 patients, delivering 250 mothers monthly.

“These figures are comparable to those of a regional hospital, yet Katakwi lacks the infrastructure and resources to match this demand”. He said.

In addition to space constraints, the hospital is also facing a critical shortage of medical staff. Of the five doctors on staff, three are currently pursuing further studies, leaving only two doctors to handle the overwhelming workload.

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Dr. Emuron emphasized the need for more medical professionals, noting that much of the hospital’s staffing relies on volunteers.

He urged the government to address the staffing gap by recruiting more doctors and medical personnel.

Paul Walkiria, the Chief Administrative Officer of Katakwi District, acknowledged the dire state of health care in the region.

He highlighted that staffing levels stand at 53% under the old system and 31% under the new one, further complicating service delivery.

Walkiria explained that the recruitment process had been halted at the interview stage due to public servant validation.

However, he noted that the district had received 321 million Ugandan shillings for primary health care staffing and that an additional 1.6 billion Ugandan shillings would be allocated by January next year, which is expected to improve the staffing situation.

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The hospital’s struggles underscore the urgent need for infrastructure development and increased staffing to ensure adequate health care for the growing population in Katakwi.

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