Rashid Mwesigye, a medical entomologist consultant at Sightsavers Uganda, a non-governmental organization fighting neglected tropical diseases says most people still believe elephantiasis and hydrocele diseases are caused by witchcraft or stepping on charms.
William Onyai, Gulu District's senior health educator, confirmed that open defecation remains a persistent issue, particularly in the districts of Patiko (16%), Pukony (2%), and Unyama (8%), despite ongoing health education efforts.
The hospital has 15 specialists on government payroll including gynecologist, physicians, orthopedics, surgeons, pediatricians, ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists and public health specialists. It lacks emergency physicians, anesthesiologist, and pathologists among others.
Kenny Auma Lapat, Kwania District’s Woman Member of Parliament and a member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, acknowledged that the government is aware of the theatre’s poor condition and is actively seeking funds for its rehabilitation to protect the lives of the community.
Walter Uryek-Wun, the Principal Assistant Secretary at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the staff shortages continue to negatively impact the service delivery to patients at the facility.
The hospital lacks a functional ultrasound machine and X-ray, and the patients are often referred to Matany Hospital in Napak district to access these services.
Dorcus Wakelo, the Senior Nursing Officer and Assistant District Health Officer (DHO) in charge of Maternal and Child Health at Aduku Health Center IV, said the mortuary can accommodate 8 to 12 corpses daily. However, she highlighted gaps in staffing at the facility and called for additional support.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru District Chairperson told Uganda Radio Network Thursday that following assessments by engineers, a budget of 48 million shillings has been drawn to facilitate the rehabilitation of Apaa Health Center II.
Nutritionist Dr Precious Tukamushaba told URN that during the Festive Season, people tend to develop unhealthy eating habits that may worsen the already growing danger of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Gen Busizoori noted that due to the current prevailing "peace", they decided to direct the reopening of the facility to the public, after years of conflicts that put the lives of health workers, and patients at risk.
Owachgiu notes that the family agreed with Gulu District Local Government to give out their two plots of land for the construction of the incineration facility at 35 million shillings in 2022. He however says the district only made a down payment of 15 million and has failed to clear the balance since last year despite promises to finish it by July this year.
Dr Daniel Okello, Gulu City Health Officer says during the door-to-door registration, health workers discovered a total of 90 children had not received any vaccine since birth. He says the discovery is shocking since vaccines are available adding that it poses a great health risk to the infants.
The most affected sub-counties include Poron, Lorenchora, and Achukudu, which do not have any health facilities. Residents have to walk for 45 kilometres to access a nearby facility from the next sub-county.
Doctor Alex Wasomoka, the Assistant Commissioner for Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health, has instructed District Health Officers to scale up supervision of health centers in their respective jurisdictions to ensure that the staff carry out proper diagnoses on patients and prescribe the right quantities of drugs.
The report indicates that generally, deaf people are struggling hard to access services due to communication limitations between them and healthcare service providers.
Zea Wapakabulo, the Board Chairperson for Moroto Regional Referral Hospital said that they do not have an intensive care unit to cater for critical patients and the hospital spends a lot of resources to transfer patients to Kampala.
Dr. Okello says blood samples have already been taken for testing to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) while the patient remains in isolation at Bibia Health Center III in Atiak Sub-County.
