MPs traumatised by poor health facilities in Ntungamo

 

Patients wait to be attended to at Naguru hospital as health workers went on strike last week over non-payment. The workers also complained of high patient turn up. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA. 

By PEREZ RUMANZI

In Summary

The legislators visit Itojo Hospital and Rubaare Health Centre IV only to find many inadequacies.

Members of Parliament have expressed concern at the poor state of government health facilities in Ntungamo District.

The legislators on the parliamentary committees of HIV/AIDS and Health visited Itojo Hospital and Rubaare Health Centre IV at the weekend on a fact finding mission on how to influence budgeting policy at the lower health units and district hospitals.

Led by Dr Sam Lyomoki, the chairperson of the committee of Health, and Dr Jeremiah Twa-Twa, the chairperson of HIV/Aids Committee, the MPs said despite the committed staff, facilities are a “disaster” to the patients and employees because they operate below minimum standards.

At Rubaare Health Centre IV, the MPs found that the maternity ward, which was built to accommodate at least five mothers, had 26 expectant mothers, including those who had delivered. The hospital mortuary is made of iron sheets and has no door while the staffing is at 25 per cent –including casual labourers.

The MPs also visited Itojo Hospital. They met health workers at the two health facilities.

“We have been passing budgets of district hospitals and lower health units without visiting them to look at what happens there. We find it unimaginable that this has been happening,” Dr Lyomoki told workers at Itojo Hospital.