Sewage pipes burst, send foul smell across hospital
L-R: Deputy RDC Bob Stanley Opio, Dr Tom Ochar, the medical superitendant and Mr Amos Oboke, the hospital administrator, inspect one of the pipes at the hospital premises. PHOTO BY DAVID MAFABI
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Looming danger. Patients ponder next move after a septic tank at the male ward breaks down, leading to spillage of human waste.
The sewage system at Tororo government hospital has collapsed, creating a potential health risk. This is after a septic tank at the male ward broke down, leading to spillage of human waste.
The problem, which has been unattended to for the last one month, has seen the hospital premises engulfed by a heavy stench.
“There is fear that the situation could lead to an outbreak of cholera or other water borne diseases like dysentery and diarrhea,” said Mr David Otabong, a patient attendant in the male ward.
A medic, who preferred anonymity, said the situation could get worse once the rainy season sets in as most of the wards usually get flooded.
“Some of us fear to work in this place because our lives are in danger. Most of the toilets are filled up and patients and their attendants have nowhere to go,” a nurse, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Daily Monitor.
The hospital administrator, Mr Amos Oboke, acknowledged the problem.
“Originally, the toilets for the staff quarters were designed for a flush system which has broken down, forcing the staff to improvise with traditional pit latrines,” Mr Oboke said.
He said the hospital is currently in need of Shs1.2 billion to connect the sewerage system to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation grid , yet it gets only Shs290 million from the central government annually.
Mr Oboke said although the district council had allocated Shs50 million towards the emergency repairs, no progress has been made yet.
The deputy RDC, Mr Bob Opio, applauded the medical workers for persevering with the hostile working environment, but promised that the situation would be handled in the shortest period of time.
