Gulu hospital director, Dr Nathan Onyachi
Gulu hospital is stuck with 20 patients who were rushed to the health facility when they were involved in a motor accident in South Sudan.
The accident happened as the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) was evacuating thousands of Ugandans and other East African nationals trapped in fresh outbreak of war in South Sudan.
The Director of Gulu regional referral hospital, Dr Nathan Onyachi told Acholi Times over the weekend that the hospital is struggling with taking care of the 20 patients as they[ patients] do not have attendants and relatives to provide them food, clothing and foot their medical bills.
A total of 38 patients involved in the accident at Jabulani in Eastern Equatorial, South Sudan were transported to Gulu but only 18 have so far been discharged leaving 20 at the hospital, according to Dr Onyaci.
Dr Onyachi said the health facility is currently preparing meals for the patients and have catered for the patients` hospital bills for x-ray services obtained from St. Mary`s hospital Lacor, a private hospital owned by the Gulu Archdiocese.
‘‘The challenge is the social health; they [patients] don`t have attendants so there is no food and clothing for them,’’ he said.
Since they were brought to hospital on Tuesday last week, Dr Onyachi said only a few of the patients have had their relatives come to take care of them.
On Thursday last week, police and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) donated 100 kilograms of posho and beans to help take care of the patients.
Aswa Region police spokesman, Patrick Jimmy Okema said plans are underway to transport the patients from Gulu to their home district.
Five people died in the accident while several attained injuries when the lorry in which they were travelling overturned at corner Jabulani in Eastern Equatorial, South Sudan.