The Resident District Commissioner, Geoffrey Osborn Ocheng, who also doubles as Amuru District COVID- 19 Taskforce Chairperson, told URN this morning that they gave the medical workers four days to take the jab, which has elapsed today.
Dr. Baifa Arwenyo attributed the maternal deaths to hypertension and hemorrhage, something she says can be managed with proper antenatal care, which most mothers haven’t embraced fully.
The permanent Secretary ministry of health Dr.Diana Atwine Kanzira says that health workers are over worked and they fail to get time for themselves which expose their lives in danger.
On Thursday, the workers held a sit-down strike protesting the manner in which one of their colleagues were assaulted by a district councillor, David Okiror.
The affected persons, mostly medical workers, have been asked by the hospital management to submit written explanations stating why they missed duty for more than 15 days this month.
Christine Nanziri, who presented a report on behalf of the group, noted that the situation is alarming all over the country. She explained that in some facilities, the health workers show up only twice or thrice a week while other health facilities are always under lock and key leaving patients stranded.
The regions asked to provide more workforce in health, train more health workers and change policies to attract private players in healthcare provision.
Dr. Gelvase Twine, the in-Charge of Shuuku Health Centre IV shares his house with four other health workers, including a female staff. Three male health workers occupy the bed room while the other sleeps in the garage.
Dr. Ocitti is wanted to testify against a suspect arrested for aggravated defilement. However, on two separate occasions Dr. Ocitti has turned down summons to appear in court.
But according to the MPs, the expatriates have set conditions that would facilitate their return home. They want Government to invest in modern hospital equipment, set up specialized units and revise medical workers remuneration.
Patients claim that they are charged between 10,000 and 50,000 shillings by the medical workers before getting attention. The most affected are those admitted in the casualty, maternity wards and those requiring simple operations at Kamuli hospital.
The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC), has today been petitioned to suspend the practicing license of Dr Christopher Bingi for having failed to adhere to its code of ethics that led to the death of a pregnant woman, Florence Nakamya and her baby, in Mukono District.
MP Rose Mary Nyakikongolo, the Vice Chairperson of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), said that whether a midwife is male or female they can all attend to pregnant women. She cited that even most gynaecologists are male doctors and they do attend to pregnant women. To discourage males attending midwifery courses in the country would only increase on the unemployment problem.
Inadequate remuneration is not the only challenge Masaka health workers have to contend with. Medical staff in Masaka have gone four years now without a fresh supply of staff uniforms.
She says that the money was not receipted and when she inquired why there was no receipt she was told that it was a token of appreciation for the midwife who had helped her to deliver.
The doctors at Anaka will now earn additional 1.5 million shillings on top of the 800,000 shillings that they receive from government as monthly salary.
Police in Kyazanga town council, Lwengo district are looking for two Medics attached to Kyazanga Health Centre IV for allegedly neglecting a 67 year-old patient who later died.
More than 170 Intern Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses and Dentists at Mulago Hospital on Thursday went on a sit-down strike protesting the failure by the hospital management and the Ministry of Health to pay their food and accommodation allowances for the last four months.
