Prime
Health minister asks new board to stop intrigue at Cancer Institute
Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The new board members include; Dr Orem, the board secretary and director to the institute, Prof William Bazayo of School Health of Makerere University, Ms Sarah Nafuna and the Head of the Nuclear Energy Unit at the Ministry of Energy.
- The others members are; Dr Baterana Byarugaba, the Mulago Hospital executive director and Dr Charles Olaro, the director Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, Ms Fatia Kiyaga of the African Palliative Care Association and Ms Gertrude.
Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng has asked the new board to stop infighting involving top officials at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) if the institute is to prevent and control cancer.
Dr Aceng, who was speaking as a guest of honour at the inauguration ceremony of the new board held in Kampala last week, asked the new chairperson, Prof Charles Olweny, to investigate and end alleged intrigue at the cancer institute.
“We want to see a cancer institute where every member of staff is happy. I know there are silos at the Cancer Institute and there are some people who are more equal than others,” Dr Aceng said.
She added: “I want to see a patient focused institute as opposed to seeing in the media that patients died on your compound after being abandoned. I want to see a cancer institute where there is no intrigue.”
The minister asked the new board to streamline the working relationships, ensure financial accountability and supervision at the Cancer Institute which is now autonomous.
In an interview, Prof Olweny, who earned himself second term as the UCI board chairperson, asked for some time to first study the matter.
“I need to look into that matter but I am told that there were two groups, one supporting the executive director (Dr Jackson Orem) and other supporting the deputy executive director (Victoria Walusansa),” Prof Olweny said.
Prof Olweny added that the board will look into the allegations of the two officials at loggerheads as soon as possible.
“We will give ourselves timelines and we shall come out with a plan to see whether there is division among the UCI staff or not,” he said.
When contacted, Dr Walusansa said there was nothing between her and Dr Orem. “I am not aware of anything like that,” she told this reporter.
However, Dr Orem said he hopes that the new board will solve the problem, saying: “I personally have nothing against her. In fact, I am the one who mentored her.”
In the new financial year, Dr Orem revealed that the Cancer Institute will be procuring its own medicines and supplies after the enactment of Uganda Cancer Institute Act, which gives them the mandate.
“We are going to solve the problem of drug shortages,” he added.
The new board members include; Dr Orem, the board secretary and director to the institute, Prof William Bazayo of School Health of Makerere University, Ms Sarah Nafuna and the Head of the Nuclear Energy Unit at the Ministry of Energy.
The others members are; Dr Baterana Byarugaba, the Mulago Hospital executive director and Dr Charles Olaro, the director Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, Ms Fatia Kiyaga of the African Palliative Care Association and Ms Gertrude.
