Kapoeta Civil Hospital is referring patients to Juba and neighboring Kenya due to the absence of an X-ray machine, according to hospital administrator Ajok Daniel.
Ajok says the hospital is facing multiple challenges,
including limited space for admissions, frequent power outages, and a shortage
of essential drugs.
Speaking to Singaita 88.3 FM, Ajok revealed that over the
weekend, a 35-year-old man injured in a road accident along the Kapoeta–Lotiyan
road was referred to Kenya for treatment due to internal bleeding. The hospital
lacked the necessary equipment to handle the emergency.
“The lack of an X-ray machine is torturing the community. We
lose people all the time or keep referring them because of the missing X-ray.
So, it’s one of the main challenges in the hospital,” Daniel said.
Ajok emphasized that Kapoeta Civil Hospital now functions
more like a referral hospital and needs to be fully equipped to manage serious
cases.
“Kapoeta Civil Hospital is no longer just a hospital; it
acts like a referral hospital. And if it’s a referral hospital, we need to be
fully equipped to manage such cases,” Daniel stated.
Daniel also disclosed that a team from UNICEF is expected to
arrive in Kapoeta on Tuesday to assess the hospital’s progress, challenges, and
possible solutions.
“Their purpose for coming is to assess the challenges,
identify areas that have improved, and highlight those that still need
improvement. They also want to check the general drug store if it’s in good
condition with proper ventilation,” he revealed.
“Additionally, they’ll review whether there’s progress in
how patient records are kept in departments like admissions, the lab, and
diagnosis. That’s what they’re coming to evaluate, along with the overall
challenges,”
The administrator did not specify how long the UNICEF team
will stay on the ground.