Drugs destroyed as fire burns Rukunyu hospital store
Kamwenge District's Rukunyu General Hospital staff search through some of the drugs that were rescued from the store that caught fire on the night of December 5, 2024. PHOTO/ ALEX ASHABA
What you need to know:
- Drugs and critical medical documents were destroyed in the fire
Police in Kamwenge District in Western Uganda are investigating circumstances under which a fire burnt the drug store at Rukunyu General Hospital on Thursday night, destroying drugs worth millions of shillings, according to hospital authorities.
The hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Ivan Mujuni, said the fire whose cause is still a subject of police inquest broke out after midnight in the powerhouse, which also serves as the drug storage area for the facility.
He said medical staff and patients managed to salvage a portion of the supplies, although many documents were burnt to ashes.
“The fire started in the powerhouse where the solar panel batteries are located. It spread rapidly, destroying essential drugs stored near the batteries. Some drugs were saved, but most were lost along with critical medical records,” Dr Mujuni explained.
According to him, some drugs given to patients earlier in the day could sustain the facility until Monday. However, if National Medical Stores (NMS) does not replenish supplies promptly, the hospital may have to rely on nearby health facilities.
“The drugs we saved might not be usable. We have called officials from NMS to assess their condition and advise whether they can be used or should be disposed of. We had received a few non-essential supplies this week, and more are expected next week to fill the gap,” he said.
Kamwenge Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Africano Aharikundira, assured the public that investigations into the fire are underway and the report will be released.
“Police, including the fire brigade, have been deployed to investigate the cause of the fire. A report will be issued once the investigations are complete. In the meantime, patients should remain calm as the hospital is operational, and more supplies are expected soon,” the RDC said.
During a visit to the facility, health workers were seen sorting through the remains, separating burnt drugs from those that might be salvageable. Police officers conducted investigations within the damaged store, where broken glass and burnt documents littered the scene.
Rukunyu General Hospital is a critical health facility serving Kamwenge District’s population of 336,738, as per the National Population and Housing Census.
