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Mbarara needs more health workers, facilities
A male patient (L) and a female one (R) share a ward at Bwizibwera Health Centre IV in Mbarara. Photo by Rajab Mukombozi
Authorities in Mbarara District have appealed to the central government to recruit more health workers following a sharp decline in service delivery in the area.
The District Health Officer, Mr Amooti Kaguna, last week told the parliamentary committee on HIV/Aids, which was touring the district, that proper service delivery will remain a challenge unless government intervenes.
“We are in a very bad situation because of lack of medical workers, there is no way you can expect good services without the required manpower. Health Centre IVs that should be headed by senior medical officers are handled by clinical officers,” Mr Kaguna said.
Deficit
The health officer said out of 560 medical workers required by the district they only have 240 of whom 50 per cent are nursing assistants.
Of the required eight doctors there are only three.
Mr Bob Beinomugisha, the in-charge Bwizibwera Health Centre IV, told the legislators that because his centre has 21 health workers out of the required 49, patients are usually referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital when there is an upsurge.
Mr Kaguna explained to the Mbarara Municipality MP, Mr Medard Bitekyerezo, that the district has failed to recruit staff due to limited finances.
Mr Jeremiah Twa-Twa (Iki Iki, NRM), who led the team, said they will task government to recruit more health personnel.
Meanwhile, the MPs were also shocked after discovering that the male and female patients share a single ward due to lack of space at Bwizibwera Health Centre IV.
Other challenges
Dr Night Atwiine of Mbarara-Mulago Joint HIV AIDS programme, said the situation has not gone without challenges, citing stigmatisation.
“Of recent, we had a male patient who was suffering from gonorrhea but became stigmatised because of female counterparts in the ward, he refused to eat and we discovered his condition had deteriorated when it was late and we referred him to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital,’’ Dr Atwiine said.
The legislators promised to urge government to rectify the issues faced by the sector.
