By Fred Ouma

MULAGO Hospital is to guarantee first-class first-aid services for the Common-wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held from November 23 to 25.

As the largest national referral hospital, Mulago has been bestowed with the mandate of co-ordinating the national CHOGM committee in-charge of the first aid.

Consequently, the committee trained health workers from selected hospitals both public and private health facilities in basic life and advanced life support, special programme for ambulance drivers, stretch-handlers, including techniques on etiquette and protocol issues.

Dr. Edward Ddumba, the hospital executive director, says: “Mulago is set to change the face of disaster preparedness in the country not only during, but also after CHOGM.”

He adds that at least 20 ambulances have already been availed for first-aid services to link all participating hospitals, hotels, meeting venues and Entebbe International Airport.

In addition, teams of health workers are to be stationed at each of these places to offer effective and sufficient health services to those who may need them.

Some of the participating hospitals are Mengo, Nsambya, Rubaga, Entebbe, Kisubi, Kibuli, Kampala International, Kololo, Paragon, The Surgery, Case Clinic, Africa Air Rescue and Mulago as overall co-ordinator.

Other health service providers include Africa Air Rescue (AAR), St. John Ambulance and the Uganda Red Cross.

According to the state minister of health, Dr. Richard Nduhuura, the Government has spent sh3.7b on the rehabilitation of Mulago and Entebbe Grade B hospitals.

Nduhuura says the hospitals would be open to the public because they are not CHOGM venues.

Nduhuura says all the hospitals would be open to the public because they are not CHOGM venues.

“We have also made arrangements with certain hospitals in Kenya and South Africa to be on standby for evacuations if need arises.”

A total of 928 health personnel have been trained and accredited for various CHOGM activities,” Nduhuura adds.

Ddumba and Nduhuura say 23 mobile medical units would be strategically-located and centrally-commanded by the health ministry. The major CHOGM venues like hotels will have static units backed by the mobile units.

The major CHOGM venues like hotels and meeting places will have static units backed by the mobile units, the minister said.

The venues include Hotel Africana, Serena Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, Botanical Beach Hotel, Imperial Resort Hotel, Kabira Country Club, Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Grand Imperial Hotel and Hotel Equatoria.

In case of a communicable disease outbreak, Nduhuura assures that the ministry would activate the National Emergence and Response Task Force to manage epidemic.

“The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services will also make arrangements to reserve sufficient blood stocks,” he said.

Offered to Uganda as an independence gift by Queen Elizabeth II on October 16, 1962, the 854-bed capacity hospital has not had a major renovation, leading to the breakdown of sanitary services and lifts.