It is a sigh of relief for over 500 orthopedic and mental health patients after the Busia County Government in partnership with Top Hill hospital and teachers’ unions (KUPPET and KNUT) organised a free medical camp to restore normalcy in their lives.
Speaking at a Hotel in Busia, Top Hill Hospital manager David Chebii noted that most patients suffering from bone disorders have a tendency to shy off from treatment fearing the cost incurred to get a neurosurgeon or physiotherapist to attend to them.
“As part of our CSR project, we will offer a free camp to patients suffering neuro, orthopedic, cardiac and mental related diseases on 22nd this month at St Joseph Primary school,’” noted Chebii.
The hospital will sponsor a team of 23 Orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthesia specialists, among other orthopaedic technicians committed to help the big numbers of patients with bone condition in the region.
Busia CEC Health and Sanitation Beatrice Nakholi applauded the move by the hospital to choose Busia County and assured them full commitment in ensuring good health to Busia residents for a productive economy.
Nakholi noted that Busia County has already set up a mental health wing at the county referral hospital as part of efforts to mitigate the rise in cases of mental health.
“Mental health has been neglected in the country because the patients do not have a voice to air their issues and most families fear the cost of leaving their kin to roam in the streets,” she noted, adding that there is need for awareness against the stigmatisation of mentally sick people and their families.
Her sentiments were echoed by Busia KUPPET executive secretary Okisai Moffat who urged the government to monitor teachers’ wellbeing after research revealed that one in 10 teachers in Busia are reporting mental health problems.
“It has long been known that teaching is a stressful and challenging career and we wanted to see if the mental health and wellbeing of teachers had improved or declined, especially in light of government promises to ease the burden upon the teaching profession,” noted Okisai.
According to the Nuffield Foundation, around 10 percent of teachers today are suffering long-lasting mental health problems, up from just 1 percent in the 1990s, and there has been a similar increase in prescribed antidepressant medication.
According to Dr. Nathanel Mwandime, causes of orthopaedic impairment range and include genetic abnormalities, birth trauma, disease, injury, amputation, and contractures from burns. Well-known conditions include spina bifida, scoliosis, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
“We have a lot of patients with bone and joint conditions in this region and some of them have waited for over one year to get the service. Every week, we would admit at least 10 patients and we still have others waiting in the clinics,” said Dr. Mwandime.
Patients will only need a national ID and previous medical report for admission. Also patients are invited from consultation and checkup all for free.
By Absalom Namwalo
