NEWS-Political and civic leaders in Ntungamo district have decried the less number of health workers in the health facilities making the ratio of Health workers to patients imbalanced which was attributed to lack of wage bill.
According to the Ntungamo district Chairperson Samuel Mucunguzi Rwakigoba, the district is struggling with under staffing especially in the Health and education calling upon government and the ministry of finance to avail wage bill for the district in order to recruit more workers for better service delivery to the community members.
While receiving health equipment for the recently upgraded facilities at the district headquarters on Thursday 25th November, Mucunguzi challenged the government to use bottom up instead of top to bottom approach if Ugandans are to be served diligently.
He is worried that the received health equipment and upgraded facilities may render redundant due to lack of qualified staff to operate them.
The acting DHO Sister Katusiime Hope revealed that Ntungamo health department is operating at 60% of the required staffing level with a gap of 40 percent.
Sister Katusiime said that staff shortage, especially heads of department, is being blamed for poor service delivery in the district.
She beseeched line ministries to join other people in supporting them in various ways to fulfill their obligations saying that Ntungamo district borders Rwanda and other neighboring districts which has also caused high population in the area since some people cross from their motherlands to the district and also shares the same facilities.
The district health inspector Nyeete Japheth noted that the first consignment received was for Nyanga HC in Rubaare Sub County and Ihunga HC in Kagarama town council which was recently upgraded to the level of HCIII
Nyeete said that the last consignment yet to be received next week is Rwoho HCIII, Buhanama HCIII,Kyamwasha HCIII,Karuruma HCIII, Kishami HCIII, Rwanda HCIII, Kafunjo HCIII and Kaina HCIII.
The RDC Ntungamo David Kaboyo hailed the government for elevating health centre IIs to Health centre IIIs which will bring health service nearer to the populace.
RDC Kaboyo assured the general public of security to safeguard the received health items until they are assembled for the usage.
The health equipment costs UGX 450M.