Arua’s only X-ray machine breaks down
Uganda Aids Commission chairperson Christine Ondoa inspects an X-ray machine at Arua Regional Referral Hospital recently. The machine has since broken down. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM
What you need to know:
The hospital director, Dr Bernard Odu, told Daily Monitor on Wednesday that the National Medical Stores (NMS) has not supplied the referral hospital with films for the last two quarters.
ARUA- The X-ray machine for Arua Regional Referral Hospital is grounded after films were used up about six months ago.
Patients who suffer from fractures are now referred to private facilities. An X-ray is usually done at a cost of Shs15,000 at private clinics.
The hospital director, Dr Bernard Odu, told Daily Monitor on Wednesday that the National Medical Stores (NMS) has not supplied the referral hospital with films for the last two quarters.
Ministry blamed
“They (NMS) have not supplied us the films and we cannot do anything. The mobile ones we use only work on a small surface area of the body but not other parts such as the head and the chest,” Dr Odu said.
He blamed the Ministry of Health for not acting fast to rectify the problem. But the ministry spokesperson, Ms Rukia Nakamatte, told Daily Monitor that the woes of the hospital were solely in their own hands.
“The referral hospital has its own vote which comes directly from the ministry of Finance and they control it themselves. So they can’t blame us,” Ms Nakamatte said.
