Uganda: Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Lacks Its Own Mortuary, Relies On Small Must Facility
[Nile Post] Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is facing a severe health and infrastructural challenge due to the absence of its own mortuary facility, forcing the hospital to rely entirely on the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) pathology mortuary.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital faces a significant health and infrastructure issue due to the lack of its own mortuary, leading the hospital to depend entirely on the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) pathology mortuary. This mortuary, established when the university was founded, remains small and its cold-storage units are ageing, struggling to meet the increasing demand for storage.
Dr Deus Twesigye, the Acting Hospital Director, confirmed that the hospital does not have an independent mortuary, relying instead on the university facility, whose infrastructure has deteriorated over time. Despite efforts to repair the facility, some equipment has become irreparable. The hospital and university receive deceased persons from various circumstances, including accident victims, drowned individuals, and murder victims, overwhelming the ageing mortuary and causing frequent breakdowns.
Dr Twesigye urged the Mbarara City Council to establish a city mortuary to alleviate the burden on the regional referral hospital. The university's administration has attempted repairs, but the equipment has now reached a point where it cannot be fixed. Dr Warren Naamara, the Head of the State House Health Monitoring Unit, expressed concern over the foul smell emanating from the mortuary, highlighting the lack of a dedicated mortuary for the city.
He also noted instances of extortion around the mortuary, which he linked to the overcrowding and emotional distress of grieving families. Urgent action is required to establish a modern mortuary, ensuring dignified handling of the deceased and preventing potential health risks to the community.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
