Emergency and Urgent Care Services – 24/7 in Eastern Uganda

Medical emergencies do not wait for office hours. At Michoes Medical Centre in Kanyum, Kumi District, we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. Our emergency department is staffed around the clock by doctors, nurses, and support teams ready to handle any urgent medical condition. We serve Kumi, Soroti, Bukedea, Ngora, Katakwi, Amuria, Kaberamaido, Pallisa, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, and all of Eastern Uganda. Our emergency line is +256701364362.

Call to Action: For any medical emergency, call +256701364362 immediately. Do not wait. Do not drive yourself if seriously ill or injured.

What Is a Medical Emergency?

A medical emergency is any condition that threatens life, limb, or long-term health. Come to Michoes immediately or call an ambulance if you or someone with you has:

• Chest pain or pressure – possible heart attack
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body – possible stroke
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Severe bleeding that does not stop
• Head injury with loss of consciousness or confusion
• Seizures (convulsions) lasting more than 5 minutes or repeated seizures
• Sudden severe headache – possible brain bleed
• Severe allergic reaction – swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing, hives
• Fractures or dislocations, especially with deformity
• Deep wounds or burns
• Drowning or near-drowning
• Poisoning or medication overdose
• Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness
• Severe abdominal pain – possible appendicitis, perforated ulcer, or ectopic pregnancy
• In pregnant women: severe bleeding, ruptured membranes before 37 weeks, decreased fetal movement, severe headache with visual changes

Call to Action: When in doubt, come to Michoes or call +256701364362. It is better to be seen and not need emergency care than to stay home and suffer harm.

Emergency Department – What to Expect

Our emergency department follows international standards:

• Triage nurse assesses you immediately on arrival – priority given to most critical patients
• Emergency physician sees you within minutes (wait times depend on patient volume and severity)
• On-site digital X-ray – results in minutes
• On-site laboratory – Okello John Bosco leads our team with results for malaria, blood count, glucose, kidney function, and cardiac markers within 30-60 minutes
• Point-of-care ultrasound for trauma, pregnancy, and abdominal emergencies
• Resuscitation bay for cardiac arrests, severe trauma, and respiratory failure
• Oxygen, cardiac monitoring, defibrillators, ventilators, and emergency medications stocked 24/7

Call to Action: Do not fear the emergency department. We are here to help. Come directly or call +256701364362.

Trauma and Accident Care

Dr. Michael Emusugut (orthopaedics) and Dr. Nicholas Iyamitai (surgery) lead trauma response. We treat:

• Road traffic accidents – boda boda, car, bicycle, pedestrian
• Falls from height – mango trees, roofs, ladders, buildings
• Farming injuries – animal attacks, machinery accidents, tool injuries
• Assault and stab wounds
• Gunshot wounds
• Burns – fire, hot liquids, electrical, chemical

Trauma care includes advanced trauma life support (ATLS), wound cleaning and closure, fracture reduction and casting, emergency surgery, blood transfusion, and tetanus vaccination.

Call to Action: Trauma victim? Call +256701364362 while bringing the person to Michoes. Time saves lives and limbs.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) Emergency Care

Chest pain is always taken seriously. We provide:

• Immediate ECG (electrocardiogram) – within 10 minutes of arrival
• Cardiac enzyme blood tests (troponin) – results within 1 hour
• Oxygen, aspirin, nitroglycerin, and morphine for pain
• Clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics) if indicated and within 12 hours of symptom onset
• Referral to regional cardiac centre for angioplasty if needed
• Post-heart attack care – medications (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, aspirin) and lifestyle counselling

Call to Action: Chest pain? Do not wait. Call +256701364362 immediately. Every minute matters.

Stroke (Brain Attack) Emergency

Stroke is a time-critical emergency. Use FAST:

• Face – is one side drooping?
• Arm – is one arm weak or numb?
• Speech – is speech slurred or confused?
• Time – call immediately

We provide:

• Emergency CT head (within 30-60 minutes via referral to regional centre)
• Clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics) for ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours of symptom onset
• Blood pressure management
• Swallowing assessment to prevent pneumonia from aspiration
• Stroke unit care including physiotherapy, speech therapy, and secondary prevention (aspirin, statins, blood pressure control)

Call to Action: For any stroke symptom, call +256701364362 immediately. Time lost is brain lost.

Paediatric Emergencies – Children Need Special Care

Dr. Adoa Pious leads paediatric emergency care. Bring your child immediately if they have:

• Fast breathing or difficulty breathing – signs of pneumonia or asthma
• Seizures (convulsions) – often from malaria or fever
• High fever (over 39°C or 102°F) with lethargy or stiff neck – possible meningitis
• Severe dehydration – no urine for 8+ hours, sunken eyes, dry mouth, no tears
• Persistent vomiting – cannot keep anything down
• Unconsciousness or abnormal behaviour
• Ingestion of poison, medication, or household products
• Severe burns, fractures, or head injury

Call to Action: Do not delay for children. Call +256701364362 while bringing your child to Michoes.

Obstetric and Gynaecological Emergencies

Dr. Susan Atai leads emergency obstetrics. Seek immediate care for:

• Severe bleeding in pregnancy (any trimester)
• Severe abdominal pain in pregnancy – possible ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, or rupture
• Premature rupture of membranes (water breaking) before 37 weeks
• Decreased fetal movement (less than 10 kicks in 12 hours after 28 weeks)
• Severe headache with visual changes – possible pre-eclampsia/eclampsia
• Seizures in pregnancy or postpartum – eclampsia
• Postpartum haemorrhage (heavy bleeding after delivery)
• Ectopic pregnancy – sharp pelvic pain with vaginal bleeding and possible shoulder pain

Call to Action: Pregnancy emergencies can kill quickly. Call +256701364362 immediately.

Mental Health Emergencies

We provide compassionate care for:

• Suicidal thoughts or attempts – this is an emergency. You matter. Help is available.
• Severe agitation or aggression from psychosis, mania, or intoxication
• Catatonia – unresponsive, rigid, or bizarre posturing
• Acute panic attack with severe symptoms
• Substance intoxication or withdrawal – alcohol, khat (miraa), marijuana, prescription medications
• Hallucinations or delusions causing danger to self or others

Call to Action: Mental health emergencies are medical emergencies. Call +256701364362. We will not judge. We will help.

Poisoning and Overdose

Common poisonings in Eastern Uganda include:

• Pesticides (organophosphates) – farming accidents or intentional ingestion
• Medication overdose – paracetamol, antimalarials, antibiotics, seizure medications
• Kerosene or paraffin ingestion in children
• Snake bites – especially in rural areas around Kumi, Bukedea, Katakwi
• Food poisoning

We provide decontamination (activated charcoal, gastric lavage when indicated), antidotes (atropine for organophosphates, N-acetylcysteine for paracetamol), and supportive care including ventilation if needed.

Call to Action: If someone has swallowed poison, call +256701364362 immediately. Do not induce vomiting without medical advice.

On-Site Laboratory and Imaging for Emergencies

Okello John Bosco leads our lab. Emergency tests available 24/7:

• Malaria rapid test – result in 15 minutes
• Blood glucose – result in 5 minutes
• Complete blood count – result in 30 minutes
• Troponin for heart attack – result in 30 minutes
• Kidney function, liver function, electrolytes – result in 60 minutes
• Pregnancy test – result in 5 minutes
• Digital X-ray – result in 15 minutes

Call to Action: No waiting days for results. We give answers while you wait.

Emergency Pharmacy and Blood Bank

Jonathan A., our Lead Pharmacist, ensures emergency medications are always stocked. We also maintain:

• Emergency drugs – adrenaline, atropine, naloxone, glucose, diazepam, anticonvulsants
• Intravenous fluids and blood products – we can transfuse blood for severe bleeding or anaemia
• Antibiotics, antimalarials, pain medications, sedatives

Call to Action: Emergencies do not wait for pharmacy opening hours. We are open 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Care in Kumi and Soroti

Do I need an appointment for emergency care?

No. Walk in or call +256701364362. Emergency care is never appointment-based.

How much does emergency care cost?

We provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay upfront. We will discuss fees after stabilisation. Payment plans available.

Do you have an ambulance?

Call +256701364362 for ambulance referral. We coordinate with local transport.

Can I come at night?

Yes. We are open 24/7, including nights, weekends, and public holidays.

What should I bring to the emergency department?

Bring identification, any medications you take (or a list), allergy information, and vaccination card if available. For children, bring the child health card.

Will I be seen quickly?

We use triage – sickest patients first. If you are stable, you may wait. If you worsen while waiting, tell a nurse immediately.

Can my family stay with me?

One family member may usually stay. During COVID-19 or other outbreaks, restrictions may apply.

What if I cannot pay?

We will stabilise you regardless. Social work can discuss payment plans, government assistance, or charity care after the emergency.

Contact Michoes Medical Centre for Emergency and Urgent Care

Emergency Phone Line (24/7): +256701364362

WhatsApp (for non-urgent advice): +256779784473

Address: Kanyum, Kumi District, Eastern Uganda. P.O. Box 22, Kanyum, Kumi. Near Kumi Main Market. Accessible from Kumi-Soroti Highway.

Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Call to Action: For any medical emergency – chest pain, stroke symptoms, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, trauma, seizure, poisoning, or pregnancy emergency – call +256701364362 immediately. Do not drive yourself if seriously ill. We are here 24/7 for you and your family.