The Ministry of Health has announced that the Regional Hospital for Paediatric Surgery in Entebbe is complete and fully equipped.
“The teaching hospital will be fully operational in 2021 and provides state-of-the-art medical services to both Ugandans and citizens of neighboring countries,” the Ministry tweeted.
The entire compound of the hospital is 120,000m2 in area. The main hospital facility will occupy 8,700m2 and have a capacity of 72 beds, 6 of which will be within an intensive care unit (ICU). Included in the ICU will be a neonatal intensive care facility. The hospital facility will consist of the following:
- Emergency Department (Open 24/7)
- Outpatients Department (Open 8am – 4pm, 6 days per week)
- Diagnostic Department (Open 24/7)
- Laboratory and Blood Bank
- Operating Block (Including 3 Operating Theatres and the ICU)
- Inpatient Wards
- Pharmacy
- Administrative Office
- Technical Department
- Ancillary and Domestic Services (Laundry, Maintenance, etc.)
- Guesthouse (s)
Works on the Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Surgery began in February of 2017 in Entebbe. On the banks of Lake Victoria, the center sits 35 kilometers from the Ugandan capital, Kampala. This new facility is dedicated to the specialist care of children and young people.
Uganda faces considerable challenges in the provision of paediatric surgery and care for children and young people. 48% of the rapidly-growing population – currently 44 million people – is under the age of 15
A youthful demographic, economic fragility, and limited government expenditure on public health have combined to result in poor healthcare outcomes. Training opportunities for physicians are limited, with only 10 students successfully completing postgraduate surgical training in the country each year. The mortality rate for children under the age of 5 is approximately 69 deaths per 1,000 live births.
However, at the start of lockdown, the Ministry had revealed that the schedule for the opening of the hospital for operation had to be pushed due to the pandemic.
“Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictive measures implemented by several countries around the world, the start of activities – scheduled for April 2020 – has been postponed to the second half of the year,” the statement read in part.
According to the ministry, some of the international staff supposed to work in the hospital had already arrived by the time the Covid-19 lockdown was instituted.
“Some of the international staff who had already arrived in Uganda for the start-up phase of the project have been reassigned to support EMERGENCY’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Meanwhile, structural work has been completed, as well as fittings and furnishings. The final touches will be made during the summer while we conducted interviews for the selection of local staff,” the statement revealed.
Dedicated to medical education, the hospital will not only provide excellent paediatric care but will also become a regional training center for health professionals.
