NELSON K
Residents and local leaders in Nyakishenyi Sub-County have raised concerns about the poor medical services at Nyakishenyi Health Center III, urgently requesting that the government upgrade it to Health Center IV to improve the quality of care.
According to reports from residents and local leaders, the lack of adequate healthcare services has forced people to travel long distances in search of better medical facilities, resulting in delays in receiving treatment and, in some cases, deaths while on the way.
Bundesiyano Kemigisha, the LC2 Chairperson of Kacece Parish in Nyakishenyi Sub-County, expressed her concerns, stating that many patients abandon Nyakishenyi Health Center III due to its insufficient services and the absence of professional doctors to treat serious infections. Additionally, the facility often lacks medicine, forcing residents to travel long distances to Kisizi Hospital in Nyarushanje Sub-County for better care.
Kemigisha also expressed frustration about the deaths of patients, particularly pregnant women, who often die en route to better healthcare facilities due to poor roads and a lack of funds. She urged the government to urgently address their concerns and upgrade Nyakishenyi Health Center III to Health Center IV to improve medical services.
Nkazarirwaki Francis, the LC1 Chairperson of Kyondo Parish, told our reporter that the lack of improved healthcare facilities has forced residents to seek medical services at smaller clinics and travel long distances to hospitals like Kisizi in Nyarushanje, Kanungu, and Kabale, resulting in significant financial strain.
Francis raised concerns about the vulnerable members of the community, including the poor and pregnant women, who often walk long distances to seek medical attention, sometimes leading to death. He urgently called on the government to either provide a professional doctor or upgrade the health center to better meet the needs of the community.
Byaruhanga Sira, the Nyarugando Parish Councillor, echoed these concerns, confirming that the long distances to better healthcare facilities have had a devastating impact on pregnant women and patients requiring emergency surgery, who sometimes die while traveling due to the area’s difficult terrain and poor roads.
Councillor Sira urgently called on the government to either upgrade the health center from III to IV or establish a new, improved hospital in the area.
After hearing the concerns, our reporter contacted Hon. Naboth Namanya, the Member of Parliament for Rubabo Constituency, to inquire about government plans and the possibility of addressing the challenges. Hon. Namanya explained that while they had made a request for a referral hospital in Rukungiri, it was not feasible to upgrade Nyakishenyi Health Center III to Health Center IV. However, he acknowledged the health challenges in the area.
Hon. Namanya encouraged residents to prioritize using ambulances to transport patients to nearby hospitals, as there are four ambulances available in the Rubabo constituency—two purchased by him and two provided by the government. He also urged residents to take advantage of government hospitals and to make note of ambulance contact numbers for immediate future use, in an effort to address the transportation challenges.
