It has immerged that Gulu Main Referral hospital water tank that supplies both the staff quarters, also being used by the patient have not been cleaned for almost a year and needs immediate cleaning.

Rackara Paul regional manager water and sewarage cooperation speaking to the press from the hospital premises. Photo by James Onono Ojok

This was revealed by Regional manager of Water and Sewerage cooperation today, while doing charitable work of cleaning the children’s ward to mark their 40 years of service in the country, and giving them tangible items like soaps and sugar. As he described, they are the most vulnerable ones.

He said that initially water tanks by standard, need to be washed after every 3 months, and stated his fear that it is possible for patients in the hospital to contract water borne diseases if their tank is not washed regularly as stipulated.

“In our record it shows that the water tank for the hospital has not been cleaned for over one year but today we are going to clean the tank just for Charity of our celebration,” he said.

He added that their responsibility stops at the meter box, but not cleaning the tank. However, he accepted that for the health of the people and the joyous week they have taken the responsibility to clean the tank on behalf of Gulu Referral hospital management for the time being.

He continued that most people within the town forget to wash their water tank, as others have stayed even for more than 2 years without being cleaned. That is responsible for diseases like typhoid, cholera and hysterias since the chlorine pumped from the water station only takes few months to protect the germs from entering the water in the tank.

When contacted, the principal of Gulu Referal hospital, administrator Dr Mubiru Muhammad said that there has challenges because they were all along looking to contract knowledgeable service provider to take care of cleaning the tank since if they identified a quack one could create more danger after cleaning the tank given other things needed after cleaning

“We are preparing  its budget now , but we still need guide from the National water and s sewerage cooperation as the technical people since contracting anybody could cause more harm than good,“ he lamented.

He also suggested that Water and sewerage cooperation if they can allow could also take up the contract from them since they are the most trusted in the field, although cleaning the water tank is not part of their work but can partner with the hospital on  business term and condition.

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