By Jamillah Kemigisa
In a strong endorsement of local healthcare efforts, the Ministry of Health has lauded Kibiito Health Centre IV for its exemplary performance and recommended its elevation to a community hospital. The commendation was delivered during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Bunyangabu District aimed at addressing key health challenges and strengthening collaboration with Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.
The meeting drew a wide range of participants, including officials from the Ministry of Health, district health officers, health workers, religious leaders, elders, government representatives, and community opinion leaders. Among the officials present were Dr Kiyita Christopher the Head Community Health Department and Dr Bahizi Archibald, the Senior Executive Consultant.
Bunyangabu District, located in Western Uganda, is one of the country’s newer administrative units, established in 2017. With a predominantly rural population, the district grapples with ongoing health challenges such as poor sanitation, limited access to medical services, and a rising burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
According to the District Health Officer, the most common ailments in the district are cough, intestinal worms, malaria, and urinary tract infections—all largely preventable conditions linked to poor hygiene and inadequate community health education.
Dr. Kiiza emphasized the importance of the meeting: “One of our primary goals is to strengthen collaboration between the district and the referral hospital, and to develop a district-led action plan that can be implemented from the local facility level all the way to national structures.” He noted that such collaboration would enhance service delivery and align district priorities with national health strategies.
A key highlight of the meeting was the special recognition of Kibiito Health Centre IV. “Among the four districts we have visited, Kibiito Health Centre IV is outperforming even some general hospitals. This is the right time to elevate it to a community hospital,” Dr. Kiiza remarked.
The facility has earned praise not only for its strong service delivery but also for offering mental health services—a rarity among Health Centre IVs in Uganda. An upgrade to community hospital status would expand the centre’s capacity, infrastructure, and staffing, enabling it to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population.
The meeting also tackled the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in rural communities due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. Dr. Kiiza called on local leaders to spearhead public sensitization campaigns to promote healthier living habits.
Dr. Musinguzi highlighted the role of poor hygiene in the spread of common illnesses: “The core issue is people consuming food without washing their hands, which directly leads to fecal-oral disease transmission. This is avoidable. We urge immediate implementation of compulsory handwashing at the household level.”
The Ministry of Health continues to prioritize community-based, decentralized approaches to strengthen Uganda’s health system. Health Centre IV facilities like Kibiito serve as mini-hospitals, offering outpatient and inpatient care, maternity services, and minor surgeries. Elevation to community hospital status would unlock additional resources and services to manage more complex health needs.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to implement the district-led health action plan, scale up hygiene education, advocate for the elevation of Kibiito Health Centre IV, and enhance coordination with Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital to improve health outcomes across Bunyangabu District.
