Prisons seeks sh18b for recruitment of health workers

Mar 22, 2023

Kisamu added that prisoners who seek medical attention at community-based health facilities are limited by distance and the need for security during the process.  

Minister of Internal Affairs Major General Kahinda Otafiire appear before Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs

Apollo Mubiru
Journalist @New Vision

PRISON | HEALTH WORKERS | RECRUITMENT

Uganda Prisons Service has appealed to Members of Parliament to advocate for a wage increase for the correctional body from sh12.1b to sh18.2b to enable the recruitment of health workers. 

Prisons representatives, along with those from the Uganda Police Force, appealed while appearing before the Committee on HIV/AIDS on Tuesday. 

The Assistant Commissioner of Health in Uganda Prisons Service, Dr. James Kisamu, said recruitment of more health workers would facilitate health service delivery in the health units of prisons. 

“The current health workforce is at 25% for 267 prison facilities." About 50% of facilities have health workers, while the remaining 50% seek healthcare at community-based Ministry of Health facilities,” Kisamu said. 

He added that prisoners who seek medical attention at community-based health facilities are limited by distance and the need for security during the process. 

Kisamu also called for affirmative action to ensure that the Ministry of Health accredits prison facilities to enable prisoners and staff to have access to adequate health care. 

“The health services in the prisons differ from those in the community because of the uniqueness of the prison environment." However, the mandate to accredit health facilities lies with the health ministry, which established the standards without making due consideration for unique institutions,” he said. 

Kisamu also advocated for the provision of funds to upgrade three health centers IIIs to health centers IVs at Gulu, Jinja, and Kakiika prisons. 

“To achieve an increased standard of healthcare at the level of that provided in the community, funds should be provided. "As Uganda Prisons Services grapples with overcrowding, the available infrastructure development fund is focused on providing accommodation,” Kisamu said. 

HIV fight 

The Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of Police Health Service, Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, asked the committee to advocate for a separate budget line for HIV/AIDS to yield better results in the fight against the virus in the force. 

“The challenge is that the budget for health is a block budget, and as such, HIV/AIDS is not prioritized,” Byaruhanga said. 

He also raised concern over the appalling state of welfare of Police officers, saying that the situation is worsening because of the increasing population. 

“The number of officers has increased with no budget for expansion. When you go upcountry where some facilities are co-funded by donors and the population is not high, their facilities are fair but in urban areas, the conditions are dire,” he said. 

The lawmakers, however, expressed disappointment over the failure of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kahinda Otafiire, to appear before the committee, saying issues raised are best discussed with him.  

Committee chairperson, Sarah Netalisire, said the committee could not respond to the budget requests because they should be raised by the minister. 

Otuke County MP Julius Acon said while the committee is willing to support the request for increased funding for the security organs, the minister’s reluctance to appear before the committee casts doubt on his seriousness. 

“The minister needs to take this commitment seriously." Some ministers undermine committee work. How then shall we support him when these issues are raised on the floor of Parliament? You need to take feedback,” Acon said. 

 

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