Speaker Among opens teaching hospital to offer free delivery services to voters

The Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, inaugurated the Bukedea Teaching Hospital, a multi-million facility in Bukedea town council, located approximately 33 kilometers along the Mbale-Kumi highway in eastern Uganda. The hospital is expected to provide free maternity care for mothers in the Bukedea district.

During a tour of the hospital on Sunday, Speaker Among announced that the facility is fully operational, offering specialized and general treatment for patients with various health conditions. She emphasized that normal deliveries would be provided free of charge, and mothers would receive complimentary mama kits. Specialized care will be available at highly subsidized rates to address the healthcare needs of the local community.

Speaker Among encouraged the newly recruited healthcare team to provide professional services to the community, which is also her constituency. She urged them to work diligently, bring positive results, and treat patients with respect and humility, emphasizing that a good smile is the starting point of healing.

Dr. Emmanuel Odeke, the Bukedea district health officer, expressed optimism that the new health facility would enhance healthcare services in the district, particularly with the provision of free maternity services. He noted challenges in government health facilities, such as drug stockouts and overwhelmed personnel due to a high number of patients.

The official commissioning of the hospital is expected at a later stage, following its opening to patients on Monday. The facility is well-equipped with an emergency unit, laboratory, X-ray, theatre, maternity ward, and general ward. Additionally, the teaching hospital will offer certificate and diploma courses in nursing, midwifery, and laboratory training as part of its commitment to education. The Bukedea Teaching Hospital represents a significant investment by Speaker Among, following the establishment of a comprehensive secondary and technical school that houses an FM radio station.