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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, Dr John Omangino has defended a 264 Billion Shillings loan request for establishing a Centre of Cardiac Excellence.
Dr. Omagino on Wednesday appeared before Parliament’s Health Committee which is considering the loan request for the infrastructure development project. The Heart Institute was allocated 10 acres of land at Naguru-Nakawa to establish a Centre of Cardiac Excellence. The Institute is currently located in Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Omangino told MPs that cardiovascular deaths are on the increase and the country needs to improve its specialized services. He said that one in every four adults and an estimated 16,000 children every year have heart-related disease, out of which, 400 stay on a waiting list.
He said that with this situation, the demand for cardiovascular care is expected to grow and hence a need for the new facility to be developed.
Dr. Omangino also wants parliament to approve the new human resource structure of the institute to enable them to attract and retain specialists in cardiology. He says that human resource remains at 129 staff as approved 15 years ago and the new structure would require 700 staff.
MPs learnt that the Institute had the capacity to handle only 80 open heart surgeries annually and it is projected that these will increase to 500 if the new facility is in place.
Dr Charles Ayume, the Health Committee chairperson pledged the committee support saying that the institute’s request will be delivered by the end of this year. He also recommended that once the loan is approved, the Institute should immediately work with other stakeholders in government to ensure the availability of other facilities like electricity.
“We build hospitals and later realize that there is no electricity. We have seen this with Kawempe hospital. You need to start engaging the Ministry of Energy plus that of Water and Environment,” he said.
Margaret Ayebare, the Mbarara Woman MP appealed to MPs to support the loan request to enable the heart institute to address the different challenges they face.
Michael Lulume Bayiga, the Buikwe South MP warned against mismanagement of the loan, saying that Parliament has approved several loans which have not been properly utilized.
The first phase of the new facility construction is targeting 250 beds, and in 5 to 7 years, the beds are expected to increase to 500, and subsequently to 1,000.
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