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.
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.
//Cue in: “We don’t expect…
Cue out:…you go away.”//
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.
//Cue in: “So the facility…
Cue out:…referred to Hoima.”//
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.
//Cue in: “The district has…
Cue out:…not be possible.”//
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.
//Cue in: “I also want…
Cue out:…related to drugs.”//
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.
//Cue in:…We would like…
Cue out:…of water costs.”//
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.
//Cue in: “We understand that…
Cue out:…and shared purpose.”//
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).