The government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health will before the end of this month begin the construction of a Shs10b four-storeyed complex building at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
The initiative aims to address the challenge of space and old structures at the health facility that was established as a dispensary by the British American Tobacco (BAT) in 1910 before it was elevated to a district hospital in 1935 and later to a regional referral hospital in 2004.
Speaking at the handover of the site today (Thursday), August 17, 2023, where the building will be constructed, Dr Sophie Namasopo, the Hoima Hospital Director, said the new infrastructure will accommodate a number of facilities including gynaecology and paediatric wards, theatres, laboratories and a mortuary.
The building will be constructed in a phases depending on the amount of money the government will be releasing, she added.
The physician revealed that construction of the first floor will begin on Friday, August 25, 2023, with the hospital administration expecting to receive Shs1.5b from the government in the first four months to enable the contractor, the National Enterprise Corporation to do the work.
One of the old buildings to be demolished at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital to create space for the construction of a storeyed-building. This is as at Thursday, August 17, 2023. (Image: Samuel Baguma/Kazi-njema News)
She said the initiative has come at the time when the hospital is suffocating with lack of enough space due to a high population of patients from Bunyoro and part of Buganda regions seeking services from the regional referral facility as well as battling with old structures.
Audio: Namasopo on project (English)
Dr Charles Barungi, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital, was optimistic that with the new building structure, the health facility will accommodate more mothers revealing that between 800 and 900 of them seek antenatal and postnatal services there per month.
Audio: Barungi on project (English)
The Out Patient Department (OPD) of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital as at Thursday, August 17, 2023. (Image: Samuel Baguma/Kazi-njema News)
The Hoima City Deputy Mayor, Ms Sylvia Nalumanga, said the project has come at the right time when Bunyoro is receiving an influx of people as a result of oil and gas developments in the region.
She added that the population which is growing rapidly, currently needs to be provided with enough space in the hospital where they seek a number of health care services.
Audio: Nalumaga on project (Runyoro/Rutooro)
Mr Badru Mugabi, the Hoima Resident City Commissioner, said as the government improves the structures of the health facility, construction work has to reflect value for money.
Audio: Mugabi on project (English)
