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Christians and clergy at Muko Catholic Parish in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda West constituency, have called on the government to elevate their health centre III.
The call was made during a Thanksgiving and fundraising event for Rubanda West MP Moses Kamuntu Mwongyera.
The event commenced with a mass led by Rt Rev Calist Rubaramira, the bishop of Kabale Diocese, to raise funds to furnish Muko Health Center III for it to meet the standards required for Health Centre IV.
The Rev Fr Felix Odeda, the parish priest of Muko Catholic Church, and Vincent Turihabwe Kibuye, chairman of Muko parish council, expressed their belief that attaining health centre IV status would enable the provision of surgery services and establishment of a theatre, among other benefits.
They said the health centre currently serves over 20,000 people in the community.
MP Kamuntu shared his connection with the facility, recounting how he was treated for measles at the facility in 1995.
He said the facility’s crucial role in handing accident cases and serving the Batwa community cannot be overestimated.
The legislator pledged to vigorously advocate for its elevation to a health centre IV and equipping it with and adequate number of doctors to attend to the community’s needs.
“When I got measles in 1995, I was rushed to this facility where I was treated,” Kamuntu said.
“This facility plays a very big rile in our community that is in handling accident cases, we should not forget that this same facility serves the neighboring Batwa community.”
Dr Abdon Birungi, the Rubanda District health officer, outlined the criteria for achieving health centre IV status, explained that the facility must have a theatre and capacity for emergency operations.
He also stressed that the importance of a wide catchment area, sufficient and human resources.
Dr Birungi advised that facility management to submit a formal request to district officials for approval such that it also gets submitted to the permanent secretary of the ministry for consideration.
“The issue of infrastructure is okay, what is remaining is the issue of health workers, staffing level and also looking at the catchment area.
He said the process involves writing to the district health officer, then to the chief administrative officer.
After the two endorse the application, they present it to the District Council, whose minutes are used to apply to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health.
“The permanent secretary is the responsible office handling the issue of upgrading hospitals and health centre,” Dr Birungi said.
A total of Shs136 million was raised in cash, with an additional Shs60 million in pledges. The fundraiser had sought to raise Shs200 million to equip the facility.
Source: Nile Post