WAKISO: The Ministry of Health through the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwiine, has on Monday, December 6, 2021, announced the continued closure of Entebbe Referral Hospital.
Dr. Atwiine said the hospital will continue to be used as a holding and treatment center for COVID-19 cases hence its off-limits to the public. She further explained that at the moment, the country is observing anti-virus measures to curb the importation and spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The hospital is therefore expected to handle all travelers who test positive since it’s closer to the airport.
Dr. Atwiine also noted that much as the hospital has few COVID-19 patients, it will remain closed till the completion of renovation works and installation of ICU beds, a washing machine, and an incinerator at the Entebbe National Isolation Centre.
According to reports also, the Principal Administrator of Entebbe Hospital confirmed the renovations at the isolation centre noting that staff housing units are also under construction to house 10 medical workers who will operate Intensive Care Units.
He also noted that the referral hospital will be reopened within a month, after completion of renovations and construction of housing units at the isolation centre.
The referral hospital’s outpatient, dental, optical, maternal, and child care departments have been closed since March last year, and later re-opened mid this year only to be closed again to focus on the effective management of COVID-19 patients.
Before closure, Entebbe Referral Hospital served thousands and thousands of people from within Entebbe municipality, Wakiso, Katabi town council, Buvuma, and Kalangala districts. All these have been forced to turn to Health Centers that are noted to be far away, hence many have resorted to going to clinics that offer expensive services and medication.
The prolonged closure of Entebbe Hospital continues to displease residents who can neither afford clinic and private hospital expenses nor travel the long distance to access other Health Centers.
Speaking to Radio Network, James Ajuma, a resident of Katabi-Namate village, said that Entebbe Hospital is located in the center of the municipality, which makes it accessible for residents who can walk or can’t hire cars or motorcycles to go to health center IIIs in Katabi-Busambaga and Kigungu village.