A MEETING of elderly people. The government has proposed free health services to persons aged 60 years and above.
Services for prevention of mother-to
child transmission of HIV are being expanded. Also, a new protocol for
malaria treatment is being implemented and evaluated, hundreds of
service providers are now trained in life-saving skills for childbirth
and all districts have been oriented to the programme of integrated
management of childhood illnesses (IMCI). These achievements are
particularly notable given serious funding limitations in the health
sector.
The allocation to health has increased
only slowly over recent years, from 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2000 to
8.7 percent in fiscal year 2003, according to the Ministry of Health. As
regards treatment of old people, the government advocates free health
service provision to those aged from 60 years and above.
In order this to be implementable
however, health providers in Magu District have requested the government
to support supply of medical equipment and drugs in order to accelerate
services in health centers and dispensaries.
The Nyanguge Health Center Medical in
Charge, Ms Salome Kamfune told the ‘Daily News’ during a visit sponsored
by the Magu Poverty Eradication Rehabilitation Center (MAPERECE), old
people monitoring committee yesterday that there is health
infrastructure problem. “We are grappling with lack of equipment and
infrastructure, including wheel chairs and washrooms, ‘’Ms Kamfune said.
She said that through MAPERECE awareness
is encouraging and the community is keen to give information on sick
old people seeking them to go to the health centers and dispensaries. In
support, the Nyanguge health center’s clinical Assistant, Ms Zita
Joseph said that they have only 5 laboratory technicians and one
assistant medical officer, all sharing one room.
The Kigangama Health Center Assistant
Medical Officer, Ms Leocardia Tungaraza said the center does not have
enough pit latrines . Patients suffering from diabetes and pressure have
to be referred to another hospital. The problem in that, they have no
money to foot their bills. Kitongosima health center in Rugeye ward is
facing the same problems.
The Clinical Officer, Mr Tubanga Masanja
said that shortage of drugs is a major contributing factor to poor
health services delivery the old patients. The health center’s Assistant
Nursing Officer, Ms Theodora said that shortage of rooms for out
patients and shortage of health staff is another obstacle. This goes
together with shortage of laboratory technicians which makes medical
checkups difficult.
Ms Monica Robert, a resident of
Kitongosima confirmed that people get health service 24 hours and you
only have to knock the door at the health providers’ houses. She said
the only problem is walking a long distance before arriving at the
centre this is almost five kilometers away.
Ms Prisca Ruswetula, resident of
Nyamughe said that she walking the same kilometers of Ruswetula’s own,
so made a call to the government and MAPERECE to find out any means to
work on this challenge.
The old people monitoring committee
under MAPERECE visited health centers and dispensaries in Nyanguge,
Rugeye, Kitongosima and Kigangama with the objective of seeing that old
people are attended to as required.
The committee helps to see if there is
any challenges of discrimination by health providers. The aim is impose,
secure, active and healthy lives to older people in the district.
According to the MAPERECE’s older people
better health coordinator, Ms Grace Julius the project procedures to
make follow up to see how the old are receiving health service in health
centers and dispensaries.
She said that her organization’s role
was to improve access to free, age-friendly health services for older
men and women and prevent and manage chronic illnesses that are a major
factor to their problems.
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