Tubugyenda (3rd left) and health workers launch the HIV testing and counselling campaign

By Abdulkarim Ssengendo

Mbarara chief administrative officer (CAO) Wilson Tibugyenda has advised health workers to set up income-generating projects and stop stealing government drugs.

Tibugyenda was on Wednesday addressing over 30 health workers during the launch of the Couple HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign at Kamukuzi district headquarters.

“Some of you use the Government as your garden. You must set up income-generating projects other than depending on stealing drugs,” he said.

He told them to get bank loans under the salary earners scheme to start the projetcs.

Tibugyenda also warned them that they could be laid off without anything to sustain themselves.
He said civil servants will only have his protection if they execute their duties well and work in line with the Constitution.

Alice Birigija, the area manager of the AIDS Information Center (AIC), said the programme was being carried out in eight districts.

The drive is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Health Communication Agency, while AIC was tasked to implement it.

Adonia Kabarema, who served as a civil servant for 36 years, told health workers that they cannot get rich from just their salaries. He urged them to use their salaries as a ticket to get capital (loans).

He, however, warned the health workers to deal with one bank at a time and use the borrowed money in viable projects that will give them an income when they retire or when they are sacked.

Tibugyenda said a law should be enacted to force people to go for HIV testing. He was reacting to a report by the participants that the number of men going for HIV testing was very low.

He said the law should work in the same way as the one which forces parents to take their children for Universal Primary Education (UPE) or face arrest.

Health workers said shortages of drugs and other supplies and understaffing that leads to inadequate time to attend to patients were some of the main challenges they faced.

Immaculate Asiimwe, a registered nurse working at Ndeija Health Center III in Rwampara county, said she was overloaded with work because she handles the antenatal clinic, prescribes drugs and carries out counselling and HIV testing.

The participants reported that in almost all the health centers, at least two out of four health workers were not at the station at any one time. They said some had gone for leave, while others had gone for further studies.