At least 14 medical personnel from Uganda People’s Defense Forces and Uganda Prisons have been deployed at Kiruddu and Kawempe hospitals to support the intern doctors handling emergencies. This comes in the wake of a strike by medical doctors working in public hospitals. One doctor from Bombo military hospital told NTV that the number of patients lining up for treatment at Kiruddu hospital has risen since the doctors reported on Friday.
Kiruddu General hospital on Salama road in Kampala has been registering its lowest patient turn-up since a doctors’ strike started two weeks ago.
The doctors demand that government should better their salaries, welfare and working conditions and this strike has paralyzed business at most public hospitals with only intern doctors handling emergencies.
On Friday, the UPDF sent five medical officers, while Uganda Prisons deployed three personnel here. Among them is Dr. Patrick Okoth from Bombo Military Hospital.
Earlier this week, army spokesperson Brigadier Richard Karemire and Uganda prisons’ Frank Baine said they do not have enough doctors, they will send a few to handle the different medical demands.
Doctor Okoth and the army and prison staff are working alongside a number of intern doctors.
Before the officers reported, the army first ensured that the necessary logistics are in place. This had been one of the reasons the doctors went on strike. With the number of patients gradually increasing, Dr. Okoth says they are working in shifts.
Earlier in the week, President Museveni said the striking doctors would be fired. The Uganda Medical Association which is spearheading the strike welcomed the deployment of medical personnel during the standoff.