MASAKA: The South Korean government has offered to support Masaka regional referral Hospital to improve their capacities in offering emergency medical care services.
Through their Health system support project of; Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, the South Korean government has earmarked a tune of USD 4,000,000 (about Ushs 14.4bn) towards improving emergency healthcare handling at Masaka referral hospital.
According to the a memorandum of understanding signed with the Ministry of Health permanent secretary, the Korean government has offered to revive emergency patients handling services at the facility and around its catchment area.
Dr Nathan Onyachi, the Masaka Regional Referral Hospital medical superintendent says the five-year Korean-funded project will operationalize a 24-hours standby ambulance system that will help patients access the health facility and services in time.
Onyachi has also received the project as a grand opportunity for the hospital to acquire critical modern equipment required in emergency cases handling as well as providing refresher trainings for their staffs to improve their human resource capacities.
Edward Kabuye, the hospital’s Principal Administrator confirms that they have so far received USD 150,000 to lay a foundation for the project to be implemented for the next five years.
“Besides accident victims, the project will also directly benefit patients with serious health conditions such as expectant mothers and those with advanced sicknesses in the communities,” he explains
Kabuye acknowledges the current shortfalls in emergency medical care services delivery at the hospital that is characterized with limited resources and management capacities.
He has expressed hope that the project will boost emergency healthcare services delivery at the hospital as well as working towards operationalization of lower health facilities in the region beginning with Bukomansimbi district.
