Banya told Uganda Radio Network Thursday that after being tipped, he rushed to the hospital where he found Otim exhibiting signs of drunkenness and unable to work despite dozens of patients waiting in queue for medical attention.
A clinical officer at Gulu
Regional Referral Hospital was arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly being drunk while on duty at the Children’s ward. The arrest was conducted by the
Deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge of Pece-Laroo Division, Peter Banya, following
a tip-off by concerned individuals.
The suspect has been identified
as Ambrose Otim, a clinical officer attached to the children’s ward at the
Hospital.
Banya told Uganda Radio Network on Thursday that after being tipped, he rushed to the hospital, where he found Otim
exhibiting signs of drunkenness and unable to work despite dozens of patients waiting in the queue for medical attention.
Banya noted that he didn’t hesitate
to arrest Otim after realizing he would put the lives of children in danger due
to his status at the time.
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Walter Uryek-Wun, the Principal
Assistant Secretary at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, condemned Otim’s behavior, arguing that it’s unprofessional and compromises the quality of health care
delivery.
“It’s wrong for a medic to be on
duty while drunk because you may end up giving a prescription incorrectly. This is so
wrong, and by the public service standing order, a civil servant isn’t allowed
to be on duty while drunk,” said Uryek-Wun.
Uryek-Wun said this wasn’t the
first time Otim had been involved in reporting to work while drunk, adding
that he had been interdicted for months for the same and had just resumed work
a few weeks ago. He explained that Otm had undergone rehabilitation at Butabika
Hospital and had recovered tremendously by the time he resumed work.
Uryek-Wun said while the Hospital
is looking at taking Otim through rehabilitation so that he recovers, there is
also a plan to retire him in the public interest from his position due to
repeated behaviors of alcoholism.
He, however, noted that it remains
unclear how Otim, in his state of drunkenness at the time, was allowed to access
the children’s ward, adding that the person in charge of the facility has since been
put on notice.
By press time, Otim was reportedly
still in Custody at Gulu Central Police Station.
