Patients visiting the venerable 110-year-old Kamuli Mission Hospital (also known as Lubaga) are now set to receive care in significantly improved comfort, thanks to a generous donation from Centenary Bank, Kamuli Branch. The bank celebrated the hospital’s long-standing service by providing essential equipment worth UGX 11 million, allocating “a million per decade” of the institution’s existence. The initiative also served as a call for increased health services uptake and regular medical check-ups among the community.
The substantial contribution, unveiled yesterday, specifically targeted the Outpatient Department (OPD), which serves as the primary reception point for patients. The “Health Bank” offer included robust wheelchairs to assist patients with mobility challenges, modern three-seater benches designed for comfortable waiting, and sanitation garbage bins, all aimed at enhancing the overall patient experience and maintaining cleanliness.
Beatrice Lugalambi, Centenary Bank’s General Manager for Marketing, explained that the donation is part of the bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment, allocating 2% of its annual profits to community initiatives, particularly those promoting healthy communities.
“Our choice of the Outpatient Department is strategic because it is a sort of reception area which needs high-class management and comfort for the already distraught patient,” Lugalambi stated. She further emphasized the bank’s philosophy: “We are your Bank here to make life easy as a one-stop banking center. A healthy population is a productive one, and when it is healthy, it will save with us instead of the disease burden expenditure. Let’s keep healthy, seek health services from qualified people/institutions, and do a health regular check.”
Officiating at the handover ceremony, Kamuli Town Clerk Stanslaus Mangasa lauded Centenary Bank for setting a powerful precedent. He noted that the donation has challenged local authorities to prioritize and improve health services. “We shall also now after the insightful tour make efforts on security lights for the Decock Children’s Ward and also raise red flag to Office of the Prime Minister for replacement of Asbestos roofs,” Mangasa affirmed, indicating tangible inspiration from the bank’s initiative.
The Town Clerk also commended Kamuli Mission Hospital itself, highlighting that despite being a private institution, it offers exceptional services, attracts a high volume of patients, and functions almost as a referral center due to its hospitable staff, affordable treatment charges, and impeccable record with government Primary Health Care (PHC) grants. “We don’t take this support for granted but a contribution to better essential service delivery with clean accountability of PHC funds to develop,” Mangasa added.
Dr. Faustine Maiso, the Hospital Medical Superintendent, echoed the sentiment of appreciation, emphasizing the crucial need for private sector partnerships. “Though a Private Hospital, we offer God-given services that need Private Sector Partnership support,” Dr. Maiso explained. He stressed the hospital’s dedication to its patients: “If we put the burden to our impoverished patients, they will run away, and so we painfully use this as a service.”
The partnership between Centenary Bank and Kamuli Mission Hospital stands as a testament to the power of corporate social responsibility in augmenting public health initiatives. By investing in the comfort and accessibility of healthcare, Centenary Bank not only improves immediate patient experience but also champions a broader message of preventative health and community well-being, paving the way for a healthier and more productive populace in Kamuli.
