Matovu
One of the solution on this never ending problem, is to assess where your
government is coming from, is Northern Uganda better today than let us say 5
or even 10 years ago? And I will say no. I one time wrote a piece that you
laughed at which had a heading Northern Uganda a liability to Uganda. What
are you sensing in this posting? There is no sign of light any where and
there has never been any.
So I think let us get out of the blaming game, I do not care whether it is
Your Government or Konny, the fact of the matter is that the suffering in
Northern Uganda is totally un-excusable and we all must find a solution for
it. Personally I think you have started to do a very great job for you have
moved from the Lutimba Matovu who was scorning at every thing we posted
showing the sufferings of the people in Northern Uganda, to now a new
Madonna who actually accepts that there is human suffering in Northern
Uganda, although 20 years down the road. That is a bold move.
So why don't we take both Your government and Konny out of Uganda's picture?
For if your government is not in power there can never be a Konny. Then we
take these matters to Ugandans them selves and they elect a government which
has the strength and good will of the population to stop this tragedy! For
your government has lost both, and you and I know it. I think that if both
of you take this step you can go in history as people who care about the
sufferings of your fellow men. Just think about that my fellow Ugandan.
Em
The Mulindwas communication group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lutimba Matovu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: ugnet_: LRA war a health disaster
LRA war a health disaster
Victims of war: Displaced children in a protected camp
clamour for food. Overcrowding and malnutrition
prevail
By Caroline Lamwaka
In 2002, the number of patients admitted at Lacor,
Pabo and Opit health centres in Gulu exceeded 25,000.
This was a sharp increase from 19,000 in 2001.
Dr. Bruno Corrado, the deputy director of Lacor
Hospital, attributes this increase to the Kony war. He
says that due to insecurity, the living conditions of
a large part of the population in Gulu had
deteriorated and more people got sick. Children
constitute 64% of all admissions.
The most common illnesses are malaria, diarrhoea,
colds, coughs, malnutrition among children, and
HIV/AIDS related illnesses. Most of these are related
to poor hygiene, overcrowding and poor feeding.
"The need for health services in the district is so
great that not even two big hospitals can cope. When
life becomes hard, the first to suffer are children.
These children are vulnerable to disease,
malnutrition, poor hygiene and displacement," says
Corrado.
At Lacor, children pay sh2000 for admission as flat
rate, while adults pay sh25,000. This includes
everything they might need during their stay in the
hospital.
Lacor, a missionary hospital, charges patients about
20% of the total cost of treatment. Government
contributes 20% while donations, mostly from Italy,
cover the remaining 60%.
At the Gulu Government Hospital, patients are not
required to pay. However, the Government funding is
not sufficient to meet their requirements. The
hospital has 250 beds but it has 350 to 400
in-patients at any one time.
Improvements were made on the hospital from the mid
1990s and it resumed carrying out major operations
after services were disrupted by insecurity. With the
coming of medical consultants in 1999, there has been
tremendous improvement in the delivery of services.
The medical superintendent, Dr. Felix Kaducu says:
"Most of the diseases we treat are communicable and
preventable. They are related to aspects of poor
sanitation and hygiene, malnutrition due to poor
feeding, poverty and poor social life."
The hospital is understaffed and over-loaded. Kaducu
says they have only half the recommended number of
staff. This means the existing few are over-loaded.
Because of the war, fewer medics are willing to come
and serve in the district.
"Those who are on the ground find that they are able
to cope with the situation. They just need some
support to be able to perform better," says Kaducu.
The Gulu Independent Hospital, which opened in
September 2001, has boosted health services in the
district, with new services that did not exist there
before. Matthew Lomoro, marketing manager, says they
are introducing new technologies to help women who
cannot conceive naturally.
"We are expecting that anytime from January 2003. If
the staff have completed the different phases of
training, then we will start. Also, we are in the
final stages of installing the machines," he says.
However, insecurity in Gulu is drawing back some of
their plans. "There are so many specialists we have
engaged who would wish to work with us, but fear to
come to Gulu. They include expatriates and Ugandans,"
Lomoro says.
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