The lack of proper glazing has left patients exposed to severe cold at night and rainwater during storms, raising serious concerns about their well-being.
Patients in the psychiatric ward at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) are enduring harsh conditions due to broken windows that have remained unrepaired for months.
The lack of proper glazing has left patients exposed to severe cold at night and rainwater during storms, raising serious concerns about their well-being.
Asaph Muzoora, a caretaker of a patient in the ward, expressed frustration with the hospital’s management.
“My patient is already vulnerable, and now the cold worsens his condition. The management should have replaced the broken windows a long time ago,” she said.
Jesca Kengye, another caretaker who has been in the ward for a week, described the dire situation during rainy days.
“When it rains, water comes through the windows and soaks the beds. It’s unbearable for my patient. We are appealing to the hospital to fix this issue immediately,” she pleaded.
Observations by The Nile Post revealed that only two of the eight windows in the psychiatric ward are functional.
The remaining windows have been temporarily covered with cardboard, an inadequate solution that fails to protect patients from the cold and rain.
Additionally, the issue of broken windows extends beyond the psychiatric ward, affecting other sections of the hospital, including the maternity ward.
Caretakers have echoed similar concerns, urging the hospital to prioritize repairs. “We are not asking for much, just a safe and comfortable environment for our patients,” said one caretaker who preferred anonymity.
In response, MRRH spokesperson Halson Kagure acknowledged the problem but attributed the recurrent breakages to patient behavior and negligence by some caretakers.
“We have repaired these windows multiple times, but unfortunately, some caretakers and the mentally ill patients themselves keep damaging them,” Kagure explained.
Despite these challenges, Kagure assured the public that the hospital is working on resolving the issue.
“We have already made plans to repair the broken windows soon. We understand the inconvenience caused and are committed to addressing it,” he added.
However, Kagure cautioned that repeated repairs may not be sustainable. He urged both caretakers and patients to take responsibility for maintaining hospital property.
“The hospital has been repairing these windows repeatedly, but this approach may not be sustainable. We urge caretakers and patients to ensure hospital property is protected from damage to avoid recurring issues,” he said.
MRRH PRO Halson Kagure
The situation highlights the need for durable solutions, such as installing reinforced glass and implementing regular maintenance, to ensure vulnerable patients in the psychiatric ward are not subjected to further distress.
Addressing these issues would significantly improve the quality of care and restore dignity to the patients and their families.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the patient charter mandates the right to receive care in a safe and clean environment.
It also emphasises the obligation of clients to respect the rights of service providers and other patients, highlighting the shared responsibility for maintaining a conducive healthcare environment.
