Jinja Regional Referral Hospital has set up a public health emergency operations centre.
It will also enhance the region’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities to handle epidemics and pandemics.
The facility will also serve as a skills-sharing and training platform for different medics on the importance of data based on quality healthcare promotions, coupled with how best they can deter disease spread to other communities.
Previously, all public health emergencies were initially being handled by the National Emergency Operational Centre, which overwhelmed health teams.
These regional EOCs are responsible for the prevention and early detection of public emergencies like Ebola, COVID-19, measles, and Mpox, among others.
Alfred Yayi, the Hospital Director says that the facility presents opportunities for health workers to appreciate the benefits of data science in patients’ care and how it boosts the tracking processes of infected persons to deter further spread within communities.
Yayi says that the centre was offered through partnerships with TASO and other partners, who equipped the centre with the necessary equipment to support data collection, storage, research, and other services.
Yayi further notes that the centre will enhance early detection of public health emergencies in the Busoga region, through routine analysis of health data in the region.
Isa Makumbi, the Deputy Director of Public Health at MoH says that all regional referral hospitals are self-sufficient and have rolled out a nationwide program aimed at equipping them to handle health-related emergencies.
Makumbi says that such arrangements will reduce operational pressure from MoH’s headquarters.
Makumbi further notes that the ministry has already established public health departments at the different regional referral hospitals across the country with 15 staff each to boost health-related emergencies.
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