The poor state of Iganga hospital

The Health committee also recommends for increase of health workers lunch allowances. The MPs observed that since 1996, health workers continue to receive 66,000 and 44,000 shillings for Doctors and nurses respectively as
their monthly lunch allowances yet the cost of living and inflation has gone up.
The committee members recommended that lunch allowance for nurses, Doctors and other health workers be revised to 288,000 shillings to cater lunch at a unit cost of 12,000 shillings.

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This is a special edition of our health news briefing only focusing on some two of the most vulnerable categories of physical disability. That is persons with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. There are increasing cases of children born with spina bifida in Uganda ( a congenital disability), but many people even doctors and health workers are not aware of it.

In today’s news briefing we bring you testimonies of parents and children and you will read about how some health workers in Uganda runaway at the sight of babies produced with spina bifida. Such people (health workers) are not even equipped with the necessary information to make referrals for these cases. If professionals in the health sector could behave like this, you know what to expect from the communities: denial of paternity, stigmatization, discrimination, and superstition, among others. This news piece therefore comes in handy to create awareness about these conditions.

Dr. Hamad Lubwama, the spokesperson of Uganda National Action for People with Disabilities says that hydrocephalus in most cases develops after birth or at any time in somebody’s life but is common in children where its impact is also great. In some cases, a child can have both conditions in addition to others such as brain injury, epilepsy, learning and cognitive disability.

Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord. It can be like a sac of water at any point on the back of the baby or an open sore. In severe cases, it can make walking or daily activities hard to do without help. Many people with it depend on assistive devices such as wheel chairs, walking sticks and calipers.

On the other hand hydrocephalus, also called Water on the Brain, is a condition in which there is an abnormal build up of fluids in the cavities of the brain. The buildup is often caused by an obstruction which prevents proper fluid drainage.

The fluid buildup raises pressure inside the skull which compresses surrounding brain tissue, causing progressive enlargement and softening of the head, convulsions, and brain damage. Hydrocephalus can be fatal if left untreated. Spina bifida and hydrocephalus are very expensive conditions to manage as they require much labour and money.

However, both of these conditions can be prevented but the government is silent on these conditions as it has so far no definite interventions in regard to sensitization, prevention and management of the conditions. Dr. Lubwama says that currently in Uganda it is the civil society organizations that are doing great work in this field but they are also limited with financial and technical resources.

Ends

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The opposition MPS who included Hussien Kyanjo , Richard sebuliba Mutumba  Mathias Mpuga and Dr. Lulume Bayiga led by the leader of opposition Nathan Nandala Mafabi  visited Mulago hospital to assess the  health service delivery  at the  hospital and knowing  how the money which has been sent to Mulago has been used .

The MPS observed that the health facilities at Mulago are the worst and patients live in poor conditions in congested rooms which were meant for few people when the country’s population was still small.

The mps noted that Mulago hospital has poor facilities where by the patients sleep on the floor together with their attendants, hospital floor with potholes, toilets are in bad state, some hospital rooms have no lights and hospital roof is leaking.

The leader of opposition Nandala Mafabi blamed the hospital administrators for making president Museveni visit renovated side of Mulago instead of him visiting the dilapidated side of Mulago so that he takes action.

The Director Mulago hospital Byarugaba Baterana told opposition MPS that the congestion in Mulago is high because of the increased number of patients on daily basis and asked mps to support 88 million dollar loan from African Development bank for renovation of the hospital and decongest it.

He asked mps to support the increase in the hospital staff remuneration, recruitment of more health workers and more funding for patients food.

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The nurses and some senior medics at Butabika hospital went on strike yesterday demanding for their salary arrears and the reinstatement of their risk allowances which were cut off by the ministry of public service.

Talking to journalists today the chairman of the Uganda Medical Workers Union Butabika Hospital branch, Juma Ojwang said that some health workers have resumed duty after convincing them that their issues will be handled very soon.

Ojwang says that the medics who sleep outside the hospital have not yet returned for duty.

Ojwang however was noncommittal on when the arrears will be paid and if the risk allowances would be reinstated.

Ultimate Media

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Mulago hospital, Uganda's nationa referal hospital

The acting assistant commission support service David Nuwamanya says a number of Hospital workers have been neglecting their role of attending to patients which has continued to tarnish the hospitals images.

Nuwamanya says the training will also help health workers to protect the patients’ rights. He says a complaint desk has been established for patients to forward their grievances against any Hospital workers who provide lip services.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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On Monday the health workers stormed the office of town clerk demanding to know why their salaries for May had not yet been paid and why no one has battered to communicate the cause of the delays.

The municipal health officer Dr. Olemu Robert admitted that the health workers salary for the month of May has not been paid.

He however says the salaries will be cleared soon. Dr. Olemu advised workers to desist from holding the strike arguing them that such a strike will affect the lives of the community.

Lira municipality town clerk explained that the salary has not yet been remitted by the finance ministry.

Ultimate Media

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