Masaka Catholic Diocese Health Department is rooting for specialized medical services in their health facilities attend to meet the ever increasing demand.
Masaka diocese operates Kitovu and Villa Maria general hospitals in Masaka district. Kyamulibwa Health Center IV in Kalungu district, 27 health center IIIs and seven health center II’s, which are not for profit.
Reverend Father Emmanuel Katabaazi, the Masaka Diocesan Health Services Coordinator, says the facilities are registering an exponential increase in patient attendance including those requiring highly specialized medical services that are nonexistent in the region.
In his presentation to the diocesan Health Assembly on Friday, Fr. Katambaazi indicated that the overall number of general patients and those that require highly specialized healthcare services have simultaneously increased for the last eight years.
This, he said creates a spontaneous need for strengthening their capacity to deliver the services locally. He says that once built, the capacity will save the patients of long distances on referral where they are also overcharged, emphasizing the need to give priority to treatment of cancers and Cardiology services.
He explains that they have drawn a masterplan to improve the infrastructure in some of the health facilities as well as lobbying for scholarships to improve their human resource.
Dr. Bildard Buguma, the Executive Director Joint Medical Store has backed the proposal by the diocese, saying their aspiration is genuine given the general population increase, which translates into a heavy case burden.
He says given their improved performance in general health service delivery, Baguma says they will support the plans of the diocese to increase its local capacities.
SOURCE: ugandaradionetwork.com