The Administrators of Ruharo Mission Hospital in Mbarara City are concerned over the overwhelming numbers of Children with Disabilities Seeking Surgeries.Arron Ndyowaawe, the Programs Administrator says the Hospital receives on average 750 children Quarterly and that usually by the close of the year they receive between 3,000 and 3,500 children.
He adds that despite the huge numbers the hospital operates on a budget ranging between 500 to 600 million shillings noting that the need is enormous and the funds that would be sufficient to be able to meet the needs probably may be close to between 1.2 to 1.5 billion shillings annually.
Ruharo Mission Hospital offers services to the children with disabilities that include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, bone-related services or orthopedic services, psychosocial support services, and surgeries including neurosurgeries, orthopedic surgeries, and reconstruction surgeries among others.
Dr BecksonTayebwa the Managing Director of the Hospital says the Hospital needs support in the surgeries for children, equipment like surgical sets, and theatre beds, meals and full medications, plus transport for children and parents that have been referred for advanced treatment.
“There are those parents and children who come from very poor families and they don’t have transport, for example, we have 10 children to transport to Kampala, a partner says, let’s say, providing a vehicle, maybe a minibus or even money to give us so that they are able to travel.”
He says the Hospital also needs support in putting up an intensive care unit specifically designed for children, but the resources that they have are not enough, given the numbers of children with disabilities they receive.
The revelations came to light as the Joint Medical Stores donated a consignment of drugs and essential medical supplies to the Hospital supporting Organized Useful Rehabilitation Services (OURS) a programme that provides specialized care for children with disabilities, including physiotherapy, orthopedics, and surgeries for conditions like clubfoot and cerebral palsy.
Geoffrey Tusiime Mugume the JMS Branch Manager Mbarara says the donation is part of the Community Health Program worth 500 million shillings under which five homes will benefit from medicine donations valued at 125 million shillings over a period five-years.
He said the initiative is meant to bring the commitment closer to the regions where JMS branches operate and where the impact can be felt more directly.
Ruharo Mission Hospital founded in 1995 and has been offering free medical services to children with disabilities. URN