Panic as fire guts Iganga medical store

Drugs and other medical supplies worth millions of shillings have been destroyed by a fire which has gutted the Iganga district drug store.
The fire which started Tuesday afternoon is reported to have destroyed drugs for seven health centres. The drug store is located at the district headquarters at Nabidonga village in Iganga municipality.
According to police, the fire is said to have started from one of the corners of the store when some medical staff where in office going about their work.
Iganga District Police Commander (DPC) Mr David Ndaula said that they received the information late and by the time the fire brigade reached the scene a lot of drugs had been destroyed.

“The cause of fire is not yet known but we are investigating,” Mr Ndaula told reporters.
Iganga Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Eva Kwesiga said the medical store was housing drugs and medical supplies which the district received last week from the national medical stores for this quarter.
“We received drugs for nine health centres and we had only delivered to two health facilities,” Mrs Kwesiga said
Mrs Kwesiga however said that the names of the health centres where not readily available by press time as the records where in her office.
“It is very unfortunate but the chief administrative officer is going to inform government to get drugs for our people,” Mrs Kwesiga said.
Iganga chief administrative officer Mr David Kawoya who visited the scene declined to speak to the press about the incident saying that the matter was being investigated by police.
However some residents expressed panic following the loss of drugs.
Mr Musa Kakata a resident in Iganga asked government for quick intervention.
“Some of us are poor and cannot afford to buy drugs in private clinics and pharmacies. We ask government to quickly send more drugs,” said Mr Kakata.