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Atwine Cautions Bunyoro Health Workers Against Abscondment

Atwine says, health workers who abscond from duty are putting the lives of patients at risk stating that those who are not committed to serving Ugandans should be investigated, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
25 Jan 2025 14:41
The newly constructed operating Theater at Kigorobya Health Center IV.Photo by Emmanuel Okello.

Audio 6

Health workers in the Bunyoro sub-region have been warned against abscondment from work. 

Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health issued the warning while officiating at the handover of a fully-fledged Theater at Kigorobya Health Center IV in Hoima district on Friday. 

The Theater was constructed and equipped with funding from the Bank of Uganda (BOU). 

Atwine says that health workers who abscond from duty are putting the lives of patients at risk stating that, those who are not committed to serving Ugandans should be investigated, arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

She explains that she had received several complaints from the public that health workers in the region have developed a tendency of absenting themselves from duty without official leave, which she says cripples sufficient health service delivery to the people.

Atwiine has directed the Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and the district health officers (DHOs) in the region to delete from the government payroll health workers who abscond from duty saying the act will not be tolerated. 

She says, health workers should stick to their profession and serve Ugandans diligently by providing timely and appropriate health service delivery noting that absenteeism among health workers has become another form of corruption that has rocked the health ministry.  

Atwine says that medical services do not have time limits noting that health workers should be on duty all the time to deliver health service delivery.

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Regarding the newly constructed and equipped theatre, Atwine tasked Hoima district local government to appropriately utilize the facility to offer sufficient health service delivery to the residents.  

Dr. Lawrence Baluku, the in charge of Kigorobya Health Center IV says, the construction of the theatre is going to improve service delivery not only to the people of Kigorobya but the entire district and the Democratic Republic of Uganda since the facility borders the DRC. 

He says annually, 1500 mothers deliver from the facility and that 30 expectant mothers in need of C-sections are referred to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital every month due to a lack of theater.   

He explains that with the establishment of the theatre, referrals to the regional hospital will be reduced. 

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Dr Lawrence Tumusiime who represented the District Health Officer (DHO) Hoima stated that, the district has 54,000 mothers who are of childbearing age and that the majority of them deliver through C-section especially those who receive antenatal services at Kigorobya Health Center IV.

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Tumusiime says, that as a district, they are ready to make proper use of the theatre and protect it for sustainability.

Uthman Kadir Mugisa, the Hoima LCV Chairperson applauded the Bank of Uganda for the initiative stating that the new theatre will help save the lives of expectant mothers and also decongest the Hoima regional referral hospital.

He however tasked the government through the Ministry of Health to construct more structures at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital noting that, there is a lot of congestion at the health facility.

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David Karubanga, the Kigorobya County Member of parliament appealed to the government to upgrade and fully equip lower health facilities in the district with enough drugs and medical personnel to decongest Hoima Regional Referral Hospital to offer sufficient health service delivery.

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Suzan Kanyemibwa, the Secretary of the Bank of Uganda who doubles as the head of the corporate social responsibility outreach program noted that, the prosperity of the nation begins with the health of its people and therefore they must prioritize health service delivery to the country. 

She says it is critical to prioritize maternal health care adding that investing in health is investing in the future of Uganda. 

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The construction of the Theater at Kigorobya Health Center IV by the Bank of Uganda started in 2022. 

The Theater has also been equipped with an Operation bed, Baby warmer machine, Emergency Caesarean sets, Patient gowns and Theater lights among others. 

Kigorobya Health Center IV serves a population of over 30,000 people including those from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).