Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has oriented 80 nursing students from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) ahead of their three-week clinical placement starting Monday.
The students, pursuing Bachelor of Nursing degrees, will be deployed to different wards at the hospital for hands-on practical training as part of their academic programme.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital serves more than 6.7 million people from the Ankole sub-region and beyond and also serves as a teaching hospital for MUST.
Speaking during the orientation, Senior Principal Nursing Officer Sr. Juliet Ankunda said the placement is part of the hospital’s mandate as a training centre.
She urged the students to uphold medical ethics and observe infection prevention and control measures, including the five moments of hand hygiene. She also emphasised the importance of maintaining cleanliness and wearing proper uniforms, which she said help with identification and protection.
Hospital management also issued a stern warning to health workers who attend to patients without uniforms and identity cards, saying the measure is intended to eliminate impersonators who allegedly extort money from patients and tarnish the hospital’s image.
To address the vice, management has strengthened security at the facility and installed surveillance cameras.
The hospital’s Ag. Senior Executive Consultant, Dr. Deus Twesigye, recently issued a circular warning staff against extorting patients and diverting them outside the hospital’s established procedures.
Dr. Twesigye directed all staff to implement and adhere to the guidelines, which are aimed at promoting professionalism and ensuring respect for patients.
Management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting patients’ rights and responsibilities while providing comprehensive and specialised healthcare services aimed at achieving better patient outcomes.
