Disgruntled volunteers at Kotido General Hospital down tools
KOTIDO, May 7, 2025 – A group of long-serving volunteers at Kotido General Hospital have downed tools in protest after being excluded from the list of successfully recruited personnel. Some of the volunteers, who claim to have provided services for up to 25 years, allege that the recruitment process was politically biased and that the District Service Commission favoured non-volunteering candidates.
The protest has significantly disrupted hospital operations, with patients facing delays in receiving medical attention. A spot visit by our reporter on 29 April 2025 revealed that the Outpatient Department [OPD] was the most affected, with over 100 patients crowded into the unit. Some patients, frustrated by long wait times, abandoned treatment and opted to purchase medication from private clinics in town.
Josephine Dengel, a mother from Kotiang Parish in Rengen Sub-county, brought her son to the hospital for treatment but eventually sought help at a clinic. “I didn’t have time to wait—I needed to get back home,” she explained.
One volunteer, who had applied for the position of parish chief, expressed his disappointment: “I have served diligently, supporting the Parish Development Model [PDM] and other activities, but I was excluded when the final list was released.”
A hospital staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned of the broader implications of the disruption. “Such interruptions reduce access to care, lower patient satisfaction, and disrupt hospital operations. In extreme cases, they could even lead to increased mortality, particularly among cardiac patients.”
The consequences are already visible. The OPD remains overwhelmed, with patient numbers soaring and service delivery slowing. Many patients are now turning to private clinics, leading to out-of-pocket expenses that strain already vulnerable households.
Dr Cerino Achar, the Kotido District Health Officer (DHO), used the Kotido District stakeholders’ WhatsApp platform to call on local leaders to offer counselling support to the affected volunteers. He encouraged them to resume their duties while awaiting future opportunities.
Paul Komol Lotee, the Kotido district LC5 Chairperson, echoed this sentiment, urging volunteers to remain patient. “More vacancies are coming up, and they will be slotted in where necessary,” he said.
Paul Darlington Lomanio, Chairperson of the Kotido District Service Commission, also appealed for calm, noting that “another 130 positions at the hospital will soon be available.”
Despite these reassurances, tensions remain high, with both patients and volunteers hoping for a swift resolution. Attempts to confirm the number of volunteers involved and the full extent of the disruption proved unsuccessful, as repeated visits by our reporter to Yusuf Lokiru, the Kotido Hospital Administrator, yielded no response.
https://thecooperator.news/stakeholders-advocate-for-human-rights-and-freedoms-in-kotido/
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