WOMEN’S DAY BLESSINGS: KATAKWI HEALTH FACILITIES FULLY RESTOCKED

By Timothy Eodu
As the Country prepares to celebrate the International Women’s Day tomorrow, the Ministry of Health through the National Medical Stores-NMS has delivered medical stock for two cycles to boost the day’s activities and also fill the gaps of stock outs in the district.
While receiving over four trucks from NMS that delivered the stock to the district on Thursday 7th/March/2024 morning, Dr. Omeke Simon Ichumar the Katakwi District Health Officer told Karamoja and Kigezi News that the supply will cover both lower and General Hospital in the district.
“We have received medical stocks for two cycles and will be distributed all to the government facilities in Katakwi district, including those of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Police and we are sure that this will really push us for some time.”
Dr. Omeke said.He confirmed that whereas the district had shortage in supply which had affected service delivery, this will be a boost as in the make up to women’s Day celebrations, the number of patients visiting the various health facilities have been tremendously increasing.“
In Katakwi General Hospital for example, yesterday (6th/March/2024) alone, we registered over 1000 patients (Out Patients) yet on other days we used to get between 300-500 and we expect the number to even go higher, especially now that we will be engaging in medical camps.” Dr. Omeke said.
The District Health Officer mentioned that in order for them to reach out to everyone who could have missed treatment due the stock out of supplies, they always engage the various government structures like the Resident District Commissioner, Local Council Chairpersons and the Village Health Teams to mobilise the masses to get treatment.
“With the supplies now in our stores, even the lowest structure that we use (VHTs) will be supplied so that they can help us handle those simple cases of Malaria, flue, Cough among others.
This will help us to reach out to even those who may not be able to reach our facilities.”
The DHO added.According to Dr. Joseph Emuron, the Katakwi General Hospital Medical Superintendent, when other patients come and get medicine and treatment from their facilities, they help and spread the message to their relatives in the villages so that they can as well access the services.
He said this has helped the district and especially the health facilities to easily reach out to more deserving patients even without necessarily going for out reaches.
The district organized several medical camps in Abarata Market in Ongongoja Sub County, Magoro Health Center III in Magoro Sub County and in Boma Grounds Katakwi.
Several services were being offered such as cancer screening, mobile TB testing and treatment among others.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day Celebrations is: Accelerating Gender Equality through Women’s Economic Empowerment