Hoima Deputy Mayor calls for government funding of private health facilities to decongest regional hospital
According to Nalumaga, a strategic partnership where the government provides financial backing to private hospitals, particularly those run by religious institutions, would empower patients to seek medical services from these alternative providers.
By George Niyonzima
Hoima City Deputy Mayor, Silvia Nalumaga, has issued a fervent appeal to the government to begin financially supporting select private health facilities within the city. The move, she argues, is crucial to alleviate the severe congestion currently plaguing Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, which is struggling under an overwhelming patient load.
According to Nalumaga, a strategic partnership where the government provides financial backing to private hospitals, particularly those run by religious institutions, would empower patients to seek medical services from these alternative providers. This, she believes, would significantly reduce the patient influx at the regional referral hospital, which is currently the primary point of care for a vast population.
The Deputy Mayor highlighted a critical gap in Hoima City’s healthcare infrastructure, noting the complete absence of a General Hospital or even a Health Centre IV. This forces a vast majority of residents to rely solely on Hoima Regional Referral Hospital for their medical needs, contributing significantly to its overburdened state.
Exacerbating the situation, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital serves a sprawling catchment area encompassing 11 districts. These include Hoima, Hoima City, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Buliisa, Masindi, Kiryandongo, Kyankwanzi, and Kiboga, all of whose populations converge on the single facility for advanced medical care.
In a separate but related concern, Nalumaga also voiced her frustration over the government’s prolonged delay in providing a dedicated road unit for Hoima City. She revealed that since its inception, the city has been compelled to hire road construction equipment from neighbouring districts, hindering independent infrastructure development and increasing operational costs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gerald Kasigwa, an aspirant for the Kigorobya County parliamentary seat, echoed calls for improved healthcare access in new administrative units.
Dr. Kasigwa urged the government to expedite the establishment of health facilities in the newly created sub-counties within Kigorobya County, further decentralizing healthcare services and easing pressure on larger regional hospitals like Hoima.
