COVID CRISIS: Kabale Hospital overwhelmed, Suspends Oxygen supply to other Health facilities

Director of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Sophie meets members of the district COVID Taskforce on Thursday (PHOTO Moses Agaba)

Director of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Sophie Namasopo meets members of the district COVID Taskforce on Thursday (PHOTO: Moses Agaba)

Kabale – Kabale Regional Referral Hospital has suspended the supply of oxygen to its neighbouring health facilities as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Kigezi.

While speaking to the district task force, Dr Sophie Namasopo, the Director of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital revealed that oxygen supply to neighbouring health facilities has been halted after it registered an increase in critically ill Covid-19 patients in need of medical oxygen.

“The oxygen processing plant at Kabale hospital has a capacity of refilling 36 oxygen cylinders of 50Kgs per day. We have been supplying Oxygen to different health units and now we have stopped oxygen to these health units because the hospital needs it more,” said Dr Namasopo,

Dr Namasopo revealed this on Thursday during the district COVID task force meeting held at the district headquarters shortly after receiving 10-oxygen regulators that were donated by the state minister for Trade David Bahati.

Wilber Kanyesigye, the political assistant to David Bahati delivered the ten oxygen regulators worth UGX 6million to the task force committee chaired by the Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Darious Nandinda before they were handed over to the Kabale hospital administration.

Dr Namasopo also noted that her facility has about 80 Covid-19 patients admitted with 30 critically ill patients in need of oxygen.

‘‘We are now referring the administrators of some health units that require Oxygen to Mbarara city; where there is another oxygen processing plant,” Dr Namasopo said.

“Whereas we have plenty of oxygen cylinders, we do not have enough Oxygen regulators,” she added.

Director of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Sophie Namasopo stresses a point to anti-covid taskforce

Alfred Besigensi, the Kabale Acting District Health Officer, decried the increased harassment of health workers by the security officers enforcing presidential directives on Covid-19.

“Despite the Health workers being stressed by the overwhelming numbers of patients in the health facilities, they are being harassed by the security operatives manning roadblocks that stop them from driving their vehicles to and from the health facilities yet they are essential workers,” agitated Besigensi said.

Adding a voice to Besigensi’s plea, Dr Gilbert Mateka, the medical superintendent for Rugarama hospital revealed that on several occasions had been intercepted by the security agents whilst moving around Kabale in an attempt to administer treatment to home-based care Covid-19 patients.

RDC Nandinda, who also doubles as the area Covid-19 task force chairman said: ‘‘As long as the health workers carry their job identity cards and provide evidence that they are on duty, they will be allowed to drive their vehicles.”

The Oxygen processing plant at Kabale hospital was established in July 2017- aimed at refilling oxygen cylinders for all health units in the Kigezi sub-region.

About Post Author