Kadaga to lobby for 13 heart centres
Noble cause. Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga (2nd right), Uganda Heart Institute executive director Dr John Omagino (right) and other activists share a photo moment during the World Heart Day celebrations in Jinja District last Friday. PHOTO BY PARLIAMENT PRESS
What you need to know:
Findings. Health experts say heart complications have increased, especially among children and the elderly
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has said she will lobby government and other stakeholders for the construction of 13 regional heart centres in major regional referral hospitals countrywide.
Ms Kadaga said this would decongest Mulago National Referral Hospital and save patients seeking treatment from abroad, especially in India.
While speaking at World Heart Day celebrations at Jinja District local government headquarters last Friday, she said: “I will support your campaign to construct 13 such facilities that will save heart patients from going to India and other countries for operations.”
She was responding to an appeal by the director of the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), Dr John Omagino, who said the institute is expected to construct 13 zonal heart hospitals but are constrained by resources.
Ms Kadaga said since the UHI became autonomous, they had operated on 2,000 heart patients and as Parliament would continue supporting the health sector.
The vice chairperson of Jinja District local government, Ms Florence Asio, said they have given UHI land to construct the much-needed heart centre.
Ms Kadaga, however, added that she is ‘embarrassed’ that the construction works of a government hospital in Kagoma County can take 10 years, saying she needs answers.
The construction of Kagoma hospital has reportedly taken long, prompting the chairperson of the social service committee at the district, Mr Junior Mbetyo, to form a committee of inquiry to investigate the works.
“The problem is that the central government has failed to allocate a budget to complete the construction of this hospital, I have visited this place twice,” he said.
Ms Kadaga also proposed to have health clubs in schools. “I want to champion the introduction of health clubs in schools like the way government did for patriotism clubs where children will learn health issues,” she said.
The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, said cardiovascular diseases, which include heart diseases and stroke, are responsible for 17.3 million premature deaths and is expected to raise to 23 million by 2030.
Dr Omagino, said they aim at developing Uganda into a medical tourism centre, fully equipped with facilities to treat patients within and across the borders.
