Kadaga Champions Equity in Healthcare: Calls for Upcountry Hospital Upgrades
By The Public Lens
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has urged the government to prioritize equity in planning and service distribution across the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Samuel Leeds Orthopedic Ward and Oxygen Plant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Kadaga expressed concern over Kampala’s dominance in specialized health facilities.
“All the best and specialized health facilities are in Kampala, leaving regions like Busoga with basically nothing,” Kadaga noted, emphasizing the need for more inclusive planning.
With Uganda’s population now at 45 million, Kadaga questioned how someone from Karamoja would benefit from services concentrated in Kampala.
The Kamuli District Woman MP tasked the Ministry of Health to develop new strategic plans to upgrade Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
Most of the hospital’s buildings, constructed in the 1930s, are worn out, with rusted roofs and cracked foundations.
Dr. Charles Olaro, Director Curative Services, promised to forward Kadaga’s concerns to the Ministry’s management team.
The commissioning of the orthopedic ward and oxygen plant was made possible by a UGX 1 billion donation from Samuel Leeds Foundation.
Eng. George Otim, Assistant Commissioner for Civil and Sanitary Engineering, stressed the importance of maintaining the oxygen plant.
Proper maintenance is crucial, especially in Uganda, where oxygen demand has surged due to COVID-19.
Kadaga appreciated the foundation’s support and urged leaders in Busoga to intensify sensitization programs about the Mpox outbreak.
Samuel Leeds pledged additional funds to construct two floors on top of the current facility.
The Hospital Director, Dr. Yayi Alfred, applauded Samuel Leeds’ support and requested more assistance.
Uganda has installed oxygen plants in several government hospitals, including Jinja, Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, Hoima, Fort Portal, Arua, Soroti, and Gulu regional hospitals, with support from partners like the Global Fund, USAID, and the Ugandan government.
These oxygen plants provide a reliable oxygen supply, reducing mortality rates and improving healthcare outcomes for patients with respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or severe trauma.
