Senior Reporter
Residents and leaders in Mbarara district are advocating for the elevation of Bwizibwera Health Centre IV to a hospital status.
The facility currently handles an average of 100,000 to 170,000 patients, but it faces challenges such as frequent drug stockouts. Some patients, traveling from as far as Buhweju District, rely on the facility for health services.
Johnson Mwebembezi, a resident of Bwizibwera Rutooma Town council, points out that the allocated drugs are often insufficient for the substantial population served by the facility. Juliet Nabakoza, the Mbarara District vice chairperson, urges government intervention to either upgrade the current facility or establish additional ones.
This, she argues, would prevent residents from incurring expenses and facing the inconvenience of traveling long distances to the few existing health centers, which are consistently overwhelmed with patients.
Dr. Richard Atuhaire, the in-charge at the facility, notes that despite the high number of patients, the facility has a shortage of health workers.
Bazil Bataringaya Rwakwene, the Member of Parliament for Kashari North constituency, acknowledges the urgent need to elevate the facility to a general hospital, recognizing its crucial role in providing healthcare to the local population.
