GOVERNMENT ENDORSES MBARARA REFERRAL HOSPITAL ART LABORATORY

By Our Reporter

Mbarara – Government of Uganda through the ministry of health has welcomed the state of art laboratory funded by World Bank at Mbarara referral hospital.

This was done on Wednesday this week after both ministry of health and World Bank officials together inspected a newly completed laboratory at the western Uganda’s Referral hospital.

This was Dubbed “East Africa public health lab” it was financed by the World Bank through the Uganda government at a tune of over UGX3.5b.

Officials were received and toured by Mbarara RRH director Dr. Celestine Barigye and in their evaluation; the works were up to standard.

This laboratory will be offering a wide range of services which among others include renal function test, culture & sensitivity, helicobacter antigen among others.

According to Dr. Barigye, he commended the World Bank together with the government of Uganda for supporting them.

He added that this laboratory is a very big step towards attaining a national referral status in future though he appealed to the World Bank to offer more diagnostic equipment.

“We have had scenarios where quite a number of people are looking for DNA services in order to ascertain the paternity of contested children, if we can get machines to run such tests then we can do it well here”, Says Dr Barigye.

Similarly, Dr. Robert Wagubi, the head of laboratory services at Mbarara RRH noted that the high demand for DNA services necessitates quick intervention.

On a monthly basis according to Dr. Wagubi, the hospital receives over fifty (50) clients of which many come from police.

In response, Dr. Jessica Nsungwa, MoH commissioner in charge of maternal and child health commended the hospital director for lobbying for the hospital.

As the ministry of health, they have been and continue to support the hospital which is on verge of becoming a national referral, she adds.

In a similar manner, Dr Micheal Muwanga, assistant commissioner in charge of surveillance complimented that the ministry said they look forward to equipping the hospital.

Halson Kagure, the Mbarara referral hospital public relations officer said the laboratory is up and running pending official commissioning by the ministry of health.

However, on the issue of understaffing Kagure, said that the hospital management led by Dr. Barigye wrote to the relevant ministry and they are yet to get the feedback.