For six decades now, Mehta Lugazi hospital run by Sugar Corporation of Uganda (SCOUL) has been in a sorry state.

The hospital mainly caters for the workers of Mehta group of companies and their families. The hospital comprises old spacious structures with limited equipment and drugs. On Saturday when we visited the hospital, there was hardly any ongoing treatment and the wards were left to empty, neatly laid beds. In one of the rooms where the clinical officer operates, there was hardly any computer to allow the nurses to record patient information.

Patrick Mike Dhikusooka, the senior General Manager SCOUL, said that the hospital lacks enough medical expertise to work on critical cases. Such need is what pushed the Rotary club of Mukono through Rotary club of Vancouver Canada to offer assistance. The Rotarians donated hospital equipment worth Shs 150m, including an anaesthetic machine, dental chairs, beds, mattresses, trolleys, wheelchairs and hospital linen, among others.

Considering frequent accidents along Jinja highway, Isaac Ssebuliba, the Mukono Rotary Club president, says Mehta hospital will improve health care services in Lugazi and also complement the government's Kawolo hospital. Nihita Khatau, the director Corporate Social Responsibility, applauded the Rotarians' gesture, saying it was a step for the hospital to improve especially in the ward setting.

With more sophiscated medical equipment, the hospital is set to open an eye care centre. Khatau said the hospital would also manage more surgeries instead of referring patients to Kampala hospitals. For now, the hospital looks forward to more partners for additional facilities like an accident trauma centre.