Ugandan Hospitals on 24-Hour Alert During Commonwealth Summit

Text of report by Alfred Wasike entitled “CHOGM: Hospitals on 24- hour alert” published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 19 September

All major hospitals in Kampala and Entebbe will be on a 24-hour alert during the Commonwealth summit.

The health state minister, Dr Richard Nduhura, yesterday announced that the hospitals would be on 24-hour alert between 12 and 30 November.

They include Mulago, Mengo, Nsambya, Rubaga, Entebbe, Kisubi, Kibuli, Kampala International, Kololo, Paragon, The Surgery, Case Clinic and the Africa Air Rescue.

During the weekly media briefing at the foreign affairs ministry in Kampala, Nduhura said the country was ready to provide health services during the summit, which will attract 5,000 delegates from 53 countries.

The government has spent 3.7bn shillings [21.9m US dollar] on the rehabilitation of Mulago and Entebbe Grade B hospitals in preparation for the meeting.

At Mulago, Nduhura said the casualty, intensive care units, the private wards on the 6th floor and the mortuary had been rehabilitated.

New emergence equipment will be installed at the hospital by end of this month, the minister added. He said the roof of the first floor; perimeter wall and walkways of Entebbe Hospital were being repaired.

Nduhura said the hospitals would be open to the public because they are not CHOGM venues.

“We have also made arrangements with certain hospitals in Kenya and South Africa to stand by for evacuations if need arises.” A total of 928 health personnel have been trained and accredited for various CHOGM activities, Nduhura added.

He said 23 mobile medical units would be strategically located and centrally commanded by the health ministry. Major CHOGM venues like hotels will have static units backed by the mobile units, the minister said.

Nduhura said in case a communicable disease outbreak, the ministry would activate the National Emergence and Response Taskforce to manage epidemics.

“The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services will make arrangements to reserve sufficient blood stocks.”

Originally published by The New Vision website, Kampala, in English 19 Sep 07.

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