Masindi district bosses hold baraza on health service delivery

 MASINDI– Masindi Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Emmy Ngabirano in partnership with the district leaders have embarked on community accountability meeting [ Baraza ] aimed at improving health service delivery in the district.

Speaking during the accountability baraza recently at Masindi hospital, Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district LCV chairperson noted that they were interested in finding out how hospitals and health centres were delivering service to the public.

They said they would also target the health facilities’ financial performance, infrastructure, and staffing to assess if they match the set standards, and if not, they would forward recommendations from the public such as the attendees of the Outpatient departments [OPDs].

“We are here to examine the systems. How health facilities are being managed such that we can be able to improve where things are not going on well. We want to evaluate ourselves and also lay strategies on how to improve these health facilities,” Byaruhanga said.

The baraza, according to the officials, follows several complaints from the public about the poor service delivery in the health facilities.

Felix Twinomugisha, the Masindi hospital superintendent explained that the lack of critical cadres like medical officers special grade, nurses and midwives, low budget for medicines, and assorted items were the major hindrances to adequate service delivery in the health facilities.

He also said that they were facing a challenge of untimely delivery of medicines and old dilapidated buildings especially the theatre and the maternity.

“I ask the district leadership to lobby for an increase in wages. The district leaders and the MPs should also lobby the central government for more capital development funds in order to construct the required structures of the hospital,” he said.

However, during the community baraza, the hospital’s top management bosses found hard times after they failed to give clear accountability on how they had used the funds received during the last financial year. Those in trouble were Simon Baguma the hospital administrator and Twinomugisha the hospital superintendent.

The funds they failed to account for include; Shs 192 million for result-based financing [RBF], Shs 376mln conditional grants for primary health care and Shs 28mln donor funds from Baylor Uganda, Shs 62mln on for fuel for ambulances and the money got from some hospital structures which were rented out to people for business purposes.

Joel Apnago, a health worker at Masindi hospital faulted his bosses for always failing to organise staff meetings.

“No general staff meeting is organized here we just have small meetings. Some structures were rented out but we don’t know where the money goes,” he noted.

Zaituni Nyanjura, also a health worker at Masindi hospital asked the leaders to senstise the public about having key necessities while visiting the hospital since government cannot provide everything.

Amuza Kabaka, the LC1 chairperson Kirasa cell in Masindi municipality accused the hospital technical team for failing to account for the money received from the central government.

“If an LC1 who is illiterate can account for the funds received. How can you fail to account for the money and yet your technical in this area?” Kabaka asked.

Other pressing issues which were raised included extortion, harsh language to the patients, stealing of drugs, insecurity in the hospital, and the poor attitude of health workers among others.

Jjino Abiriga, the Masindi district health officer commended the district leadership for organizing the public accountability meetings saying that they are helping them clean their house.

Byaruhanga warned in strongest terms the health workers especially those working in theatre against extortion.

“Your salaries have been enhanced. Why do continue extorting the poor who even do not earn a salary? I have tolerated you enough but now if you are not ready to change I am going to crucify you. I have been merciful for six years but now I am merciless,” he said.

He also directed the chief administrative officer and the district health officer to ensure that there is a special budget for theatre supplies, saying that the facilities in the theatre are always available for the mothers but that officials just want to dupe the public in order to get money.

He also warned officials of late coming and absenteeism. “All late comers and absentees without genuine excuses must be subjected to disciplinary action. I want every staff to have a name tag by October this year. All your uniforms must be engraved for easy identification,” Byaruhanga ordered.

https://thecooperator.news/proceeds-of-empango-marathon-dedicated-to-kikuube-health-facility/

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