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Joy as Gombe Hospital gets maternity ward, staff houses
The newly built staff quarters at Gombe General Hospital that were commissioned on November 29, 2023. PHOTO/BRIAN ADAMS KESIIME
What you need to know:
- Gombe General Hospital, which was constructed in 1969, serves patients from Gomba, Butambala, Mpigi, Mityana, parts of Wakiso, Kalungu and Sembabule districts.
Local leaders and health workers at Gombe General Hospital in Butambala District are in a joyful mood after the facility acquired new infrastructure.
Funding worth Shs6 billion has seen the construction of a fully equipped maternity ward and new staff quarters at the hospital.
“Because of lack of accommodation, some health workers have been commuting from home and sometimes reporting late for duty, others could completely abscond from duty hence affecting service delivery, but with additional 18 units, this is likely to come to an end,” Dr Joseph Mbuga, the hospital superintendent, said on Wednesday.
The two new structures were commissioned by the Prime Minister, Ms Robinah Nabbanja, on Wednesday.
Dr Mbuga said the existing staff quarters (nine units) are also going to get a face lift at a cost of Shs2.8 billion.
Ms Nabbanja urged health workers and hospital users to put the new structures and equipment to good use.
“I urge health workers who are going to use these new staff quarters to maintain them well because they have been built to international standards, if possible try to use the new technology such as cooking gas to keep the paint shining,” she said.
Ms Monica Nantumbwe, a mother of five and resident of Gombe Town Council, said she delivered all her children from the facility, but there has been lack of basic equipment and supplies in the maternity ward over the years.
“We are happy that we now have a better maternity facility and whatever is needed by mothers is now available, we are grateful to the government,” she said.
Mr Khalid Lumima, the chairperson Gombe Town Council, commended the UPDF Engineering Brigade that undertook the construction works for delivering quality work.
“As a local leader, I have been closely supervising the work and I really appreciate the good workmanship exhibited,” he said.
Brig Gen Cyrus Bekunda Besigye, the UPDF Engineering Brigade commander, thanked the government for trusting them with mega projects, including renovation of Namboole Stadium and health facilities.
“I am happy that this [Gombe Hospital facilities] is the first project we are handing over, others are about to be completed,” he said.
