“In addition to funding our programs, the Friends of Ruwenzori have mobilized the resources to put up these structures, and have secured us medical equipment. We shall have good quality medical beds, surgical equipment, operating and examination tables among other medical equipment,” Rev. Ezra says.

The consignment of medical equipment mobilized through IMEC, another US based non-profit is expected to arrive in Uganda by end of August 2011.

This together with the support that KIDA has started attracting from different circles is giving Rev. Musobozi a lot of hope to deliver the health care that the community expects from KIDA hospital. He says KIDA has recently received delegations and officials from different civil society and government bodies in Uganda inquiring about possible areas of cooperation.

Local leaders impressed with KIDA

The local district government of the area has promised to offer support to the new hospital, starting off with 8 million shillings pledge per quarter to help the hospital in meeting some of the running costs.

The district Chairman of Kabarole, Richard Rwabuhinga who announced the offer while presiding at the KIDA family health day also promised technical support from the district’s health department, as they will be able.

He hailed KIDA for introducing innovative services that are changing the lives of people in Kitojo and neighboring areas of the district.

“A few months back, I was invited to KIDA to celebrate the success of the KIDA SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Association) that was started by HIV positive people to encourage them to save and borrow to undertake income generating activities. I’m now here to celebrate with you a family health day that has attracted very many people to receive free medical services at this new hospital,” Rwabuhinga noted.

He said the KIDA health centre, which is now turning into a fully-fledged hospital, is helping the local and central government in providing health services to the people at the grassroots.

The Woman MP of Kabarole district, Victoria Rusoke Businge also speaks highly of KIDA and the new hospital, promising to mobilize any possible support from the central government.

“I’m sure this facility and its unique services is not anywhere in the Ruwenzori region. KIDA is helping the government of Uganda keep people healthy; reduce on material deaths and other challenges. It deserves all the support,” Mrs. Rusoke says.

 An achievement, but a beginning

 Indeed, KIDA does need all the support they can get. The organisation depends on one donor, the Friends of Ruwenzori to fund its programs. The same funders are mobilizing funds for building, equipping, stocking and running the KIDA hospital.

The KIDA facility expected to cost about 2.5 billion Uganda shillings (about US $1 million) is only half way through.

“We are very grateful to the Friends of Ruwenzori for what they have done for our community. We hope there can be others to join hands with them and support us. We still need funds to build a maternity ward, bigger operating theater, out patient unit, and administration block. We need to equip the hospital with necessary testing, treatment and care equipment, medicines, as well as pay the health workers,” Rev. Musobozi says.

KIDA has recently been grappling with accommodation challenges for the newly recruited hospital staff. Being rural based, there are no private rental units anywhere nearby to accommodate the staff. This has forced KIDA to borrow money from its SACCO to build staff quarters. Rev. Musobozi hopes that the hospital will charge subsidized user fees to enable KIDA meet the remuneration needs of the staff, but raising any income from health services might be real in over a year.

For Flavia Kisembo and many people in Kitojo, these are issues for Rev. Musobozi to worry about. “Our own worry of where to get quality affordable medical care has now been answered by KIDA hospital,” Kisembo says.

 Also see

Kabarole leaders haild KIDA SACCO– Weinformers.net, June 16^th 2011

KIDA’s journey of empowerment– an article by KIDA founder Rev. Ezra Musobozi on why and how the organization was started.

A video documentary on contribution of KIDA and Friends of Ruwenzori to better life in Kitojo, western Uganda

A video series on KIDA programs

By Gerald Businge

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