Kampala, Uganda – Mengo Hospital launched its new Accident and Emergency facility amidst much anticipation and excitement. With the rising number of accident and trauma cases in the country, the hospital has embarked on a project to increase its capacity and improve service delivery.

On Monday, the facility was officially opened by the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Rt. Rev. Moses Banja, who applauded the hospital’s timely response to the growing crisis. He also urged medical professionals to treat all patients with respect and provide quality care, regardless of their social status.

“God has put you in this sensitive place to take good care of people’s lives. You must do it well. Treat patients well. Even if the person you are handling is of low status, treat them with dignity as God would love you to do,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Mengo Hospital Executive Director Dr. Simon Peter Nsingo said the expanded facility will now offer 24/7 emergency care, including dedicated ambulance services, state-of-the-art trauma units for critical cases, a consolidated outpatient department, a specialist center for multi-disciplinary care, a dedicated clinic for non-communicable diseases, and a children’s facility.

“This is something we needed in a country where patients are concerned about the time they spend in hospital. Therefore, the purpose of opening this space was to improve efficiencies and the quality of care we provide to patients,” Dr. Nsingo said.

He also emphasized that the upgraded facility will ensure faster access to the operating theatre, increasing the likelihood of survival in critical cases.

“Previously, we were offering services, but as trauma cases continue to increase due to accidents, we thought it wise to expand the facility from eight emergency and accident beds to 20 emergency beds,” he added.

Jimmy Mugerwa, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at Mengo Hospital, also spoke at the event. He built on Dr. Nsingo’s remarks, emphasizing the hospital’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services to all members of the public.