By Francis Nzeyimana
Residents of Bukimbiri County in Kisoro district have expressed growing concern after two major health centers in the area; Bukimbiri HC III and Ikamiro HCII in Nyundo Sub County are operating without health workers.
The residents who forwarded their complaints to the Bukimbiri County Member of Parliament Hon. Eddie Kwizera Wa-Gahungu said, since before the festive season of 2021, patients would visit the two health facilities and would hardly get any assistance from Health workers.
Hon. Kwizera Wa- Gahungu says his people are frustrated because when they visit the health facilities they do not find any health workers because some are on leave while others never reported to work.
Wa- Gahungu says some people complained of being given medication without being tested by the laboratory services because the lab technician is never available.
A fact finding mission involving Nyundo Sub County LCV councilor who also doubles as the Secretary for Education and Community Benadini Twikiriize and Nyundo Sub County LC III Fred Mutambuze confirmed the disturbing development.
According to Hon. Councilor Benadini Twikiriize, patients at Bukimbiri HCIII were so many however there was no In-charge and Laboratory technician at the facility.
Hon. Twikiriize explained that Nyundo Sub County is known for having a high prevalence of Malaria cases.
“When we got there, I was deeply saddened to see the huge number of patients who were waiting for services. I found some nurses who explained that the in- charge had never reported back while the Lab Technician was granted annual leave, Twikiriize explained.
Twikiriize says she found it extremely odd that the District Health Officer would grant two senior health workers annual leave and not find replacements for them.
“Patients are simply being given medicines without first test them because the Laboratory technician is not available, We need the district LCV chairperson and the district DHO to address the issue of understaffing before malaria kills the people of Nyundo Sub County”, Twikiriize said.
According to the National Malaria control program (2014-2020), Malaria is still a major public health problem and the most frequently reported disease at both public and private health facilities in Uganda.
Malaria is endemic in approximately 95% of the country, affecting over 90% of the population.
Kisoro DHO Responds
Kisoro district Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Steven Nsabiyumva has refuted the claims by the district Councilors because health workers have been available since before Christmas day to date.
During an Interview with Voice of Muhabura, Dr. Nsabiyumva listed the number of health workers who have been working on each day.
Dr. Nsabiyumva said the health facilities did not have understaffing at any given time.
“I want the public to know that it is not true what the councilors are claiming because all patients have been managed, Dr. Nsabiyumva said
He further clarified that the In charge of Bukimbiri HCIII had requested for 2 weeks leave and wanted to go home in Ibanda district after a period of one year on duty.
Conflicting accounts have since emerged after Bukimbiri County MP Hon. Eddie Kwizera Wa- Gahungu claims that the DHO Dr. Steven Nsabiyumva reported that the in charge was diagnosed with Covid-19 and was unable to return to work.
Dr. Nsabiyumva said the Laboratory technician at Bukimbiri HCIII who has not been available cannot simply be replaced because the system does not work like that.
He said nurses have access to Rapid Diagnostics Test Kits (RDTs) which can be used to diagnose patients and prescribe the right treatment.
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