Records obtained from the health facility indicate that, it has two midwives, one laboratory assistant, one records assistant, one clinical officer and two askaris. The shortage of staff at the facility has created a big gap in the health service delivery.
Kyehoro Health Center III in Kikuube district is facing a shortage of health workers.
The health facility that is situated along the shores of
Lake Albert has only seven workers including the support staff which
is below the required 42 staff as per the new government structure for health
centre III.
Records obtained from the health facility indicate that it
has two midwives, one laboratory assistant, one records assistant, one clinical
officer and two Askaris.
The shortage of staff at the facility has created a
big gap in the health service delivery.
Innocent Irumba, the in charge of the facility explains
that the situation forces health workers to work beyond the recommended time
since they have to provide critical health service delivery to residents in the
area.
He says, despite the challenges, health workers at the
facility have remained committed to their roles, providing essential health services
to the residents.
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He has appealed to the government to recruit and deploy
more health workers to the facility so that they to offer sufficient
health service delivery to locals.
He says the facility is also overwhelmed by the huge
number of patients who flock to it to attain appropriate medical attention.
According to Irumba, the facility receives approximately
500 patients every month including those who cross from the Democratic
Republic of Uganda.
He elaborates that, the facility at times gets acute shortages
of drugs and medical supplies given the huge number of patients who flock to it.
Irumba additionally adds that the health facility lacks
essential medicines such as anti-malaria drugs, antibiotics, vaccines and
medical supplies such as syringes, gloves, catheters and gauze among others.
David Bedijo, a resident of Kyehoro landing site has
appealed to the government to allocate more staff at the facility to boost
health service delivery adding that due to the lack of enough staff, patients
are forced to line up for long hours to access health services at the facility.
Fred Opoka Jego, the Chairperson LCI of Kyehoro landing
site notes that, given the huge number of patients who flock to the facility, the government should ensure immediate recruitment of more health workers and
timely distribution of drugs and medical supplies.
Joselyne Atim, a patient who was found at the health facility says, there is a need for the government to act swiftly and deploy more staff.
Vincent Alpha Opio, the Kikuube LCV Vice Chairperson has highlighted
the urgent need for additional staff at the health facility noting that as a
district, they have embarked on vigorous recruitment of workers and that soon,
the existing gaps will be filled.
