Govt to buy medical equipment for Butimba hospital

Mwanza. The government plans to purchase an X-ray and an ultra- sound machine for Butimba Hospital to boost efficiency and effective diagnosis at the health facility.

Doctor in-charge of the hospital Agnes Mwita told reporters on Saturday that the decision to procure the machines was in line with the health policy, which aimed at ensuring health services were brought near to people.

Dr Mwita said the two machines would help patients around and from outside the district to access health services near to their areas.

“We hail the government for including us in this new project. Patients will be served here without having to travel long distances to other health facilities. Currently, we do not have a reliable ultra sound machine because the one we have is out of order,” she said.

and required repair if not replacement,” she explained.

Eralier, Dr Mwita said the hospital had no X-ray machine while the Ultra-sound machine they were using belonged to Makongoro Health Centre.

Dr Mwita said that they had been admitting approximately 20 patients weekly, especially expectant mothers who required ultra-sound services, unfortunately, they were forced to refer them to other hospitals including Bugando Medical Centre [BMC] and as well as Sekou Toure, due to lack of facilities.

“We believe that changes are going to be noted after the installation of the machines, most of us have been moving all the way from here to town and at times hire a tax to carry our patients, which is very expensive,” said Ms Husna Muhidini, a resident of Butimba.