Fort Portal tops western region in health sector performance.
By Musa Polite
Ministry of health has ranked Fort Portal city as number one in western Uganda in regards to delivering health services to its populace.
The Ministry of health annual health sector performance report 2023/2024 puts Fort Portal in the first position in the whole of western region and fifth country wide after Lira city, Kiruhura, Soroti city and Rubanda district.
The assessment focused in areas like community-level health promotion, education, and prevention services, Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and injuries, Improving the quality of services at the Lower-Level Health Facilities, Improvement of Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health services, Strengthen public-private partnerships in areas of reporting, among others
Mothers with their children at one of the immunization centers in Fort Portal
Kyegegwa, Ntoroko and Kabarole came last in Toro region in 128th 116th and 105th positions respectively while Fort Portal, Bunyangabu and Kitagwenda topped the region in 5th, 46th and 54th positions respectively.
Dr. Asiimwe Solomon, the Fort Portal city health officer who couldn’t hide his excitement and appreciation, attributed the good performance to moral support from all political and technical departments at the city council and other lower levels staff and applauded his medical staff for the dedication and work well done.
Fort Portal city deputy mayor Mujungu Betty noted that such a position at a city that is understaffed in the health department signifies the hard work and commitment of the entire team adding that this gives them a motivation to aim even higher. She pledged political will not only to the health department but to the entire city such that Fort Portal takes it all in general.
Audio of deputy mayor and DHO about the performance
The same report indicates that the national average score for the Local Government increased from 71.8% in FY 2022/23 to 72.6% in FY 2023/24. 48.6% (71/146) of the LGs scored above the national average of 72.6%. Overall, the regional LG scores have improved in all regions. Kigezi region ranked first with 77.1% followed by West Nile (77.0%). Busoga (64.7%), Bunyoro (63.5%) and South Central (59%) have remained the lowest performing regions.
The Health Centers provided 81% of the outpatient services and 29% of the inpatient services down from 89% of outpatient and 43% respectively while Public facilities contributed for 80% of outpatient services and 70% of inpatient services, while Private Not for Profit facilities accounted for 14% of outpatient services and 25% of inpatient services.
On the Status of Emergency Medical Services in Uganda, The reported number of emergency cases was 828 cases per 100,000 population. Kampala reported the highest number of emergency cases, followed by South-Central, Acholi, Busoga, and West Nile. In contrast, Teso reported the lowest number of emergency cases during FY 2023/24. On average, 54.8% of all emergency cases received care at the scene of the emergency, and only 7.4% arrived at health facilities using ambulance services. Among these, 80.8% accessed care within one hour of arrival at the emergency units, with a case fatality rate of 10.2% was recorded within the emergency units.
Speaking during the dissemination of the report at the 30th Joint Review Mission in Kampala, the minister of health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng commended all health workers in Uganda from the public and private sector for the resilience and commitment towards delivery of quality health services amidst all the health system challenges
She added that this report provides evidence-based data that should be widely disseminated and utilized for policy dialogue, advocacy, planning, resource mobilization and allocation to the health sector.
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