JICA INJECTS SHS24B IN SOROTI, JINJA HOSPITALS TO BOOST SPECIALISED CARE

By Abraham Ekwaru, Communication Officer Soroti

Patients in Eastern Uganda are expected to access improved surgical and diagnostic services following the handover of medical equipment worth Shs24 billion to Soroti and Jinja regional referral hospitals by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The equipment was officially handed over last Friday at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital during a ceremony attended by government and Japanese officials.

The support follows a needs assessment conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health, hospital administrators and JICA experts to address long-standing gaps in specialised care at regional facilities.

At Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, the main theatre has been upgraded to handle advanced procedures, including the installation of endoscopy equipment at the facility for the first time.The neonatal intensive care unit has also received new incubators, while the ophthalmology and dentistry departments have been equipped with modern machines.

Dr Epodoi Joseph, a senior consultant urologist representing hospital director Dr Watmon Benedicto, said the equipment will enable the hospital to perform a wider range of surgeries and reduce referrals to national facilities.

“We have been referring many patients because of limited equipment. This intervention will help us manage more cases locally and reduce waiting time,” he said.

At Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, which serves about 4.6 million people in the Busoga sub-region, management received digital X-ray and ultrasound machines, anesthetic machines, operating tables, oxygen concentrators and patient monitors, among others.

Mr Alfred Yayi, senior executive consultant at the hospital, said the equipment would strengthen the referral chain by improving the hospital’s response to complex cases.

“This support gives confidence to lower health facilities that cases referred here can be handled effectively,” he said.

JICA’s representative to Uganda, Inoue Yoichi, said the intervention is intended to improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance patient monitoring and increase surgical safety.

Japan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Sasayama Takuya, said strengthening regional referral hospitals is critical as Uganda’s population grows and demand for specialised services increases.

Soroti West MP-elect Calvin Echodu welcomed the support, saying the regional hospital serves a large population in Teso and neighbouring sub-regions.

The investment will ease the burden on families who have been travelling long distances to access specialised treatment,” he said.

End