Panyadoli HCIV grapples with staff shortage amid refugee influx

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Panyadoli Health Centre IV in Kiryandongo district is struggling with a shortage of staff amid the growing influx of refugees from various countries.

According to Dr Alex Paul Tezita, the in-charge at Panyadoli HCIV, the facility is supposed to have 130 staff members, but currently has only 72.

“Of the 72 staff members, only 30 are employed by the local government. The remaining 42 are employed by implementing partners. To make matters worse, out of the 30 government-employed staff, only 25 are technical, while five are support staff,” Dr Tezita said during the official launch of the electronic medical records system at the facility on June 11, 2025.

Dr Tezita told New Vision that the facility is overwhelmed by the high number of patients, particularly refugees living in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement.

Kiryandongo district leaders during the launch of the electronic medical records system at the facility on June 11, 2025l. (Photo by Yosam Gucwaki)

“Our current catchment is 280,000 people, which is far above the district’s intended coverage. By March this year, we were essentially serving the entire region,” he said, adding that the facility is ideally meant to serve a maximum of 100,000 people.

He expressed concern over the dwindling funding to NGOs that currently support the facility with healthcare workers. He warned that if these organisations close, the facility will face a severe shortage of staff.

He noted that the outpatient department receives about 400 patients each week and that the facility is also struggling with inadequate infrastructure.

“Our facility has a bed capacity of 121. We are facing congestion,” he said.

Kiryandongo district chief administrative officer, Anslem Kyaligonza, noted that although the facility is going digital, adequate staffing is still needed for efficiency.

“Most of the health workers at the facility are paid by NGOs. Of the 72 staff members, only 30 are on the government payroll. My appeal to our Members of Parliament is to advocate for wage enhancement because we cannot recruit more staff at the moment. We have limited control over NGO-employed personnel,” he said.

“I intend to request a wage increment at the start of the next financial year. Our MPs should help us lobby for this. We need to raise our staffing levels to at least 80%, ideally 100%,” he added.

Keith Gilbert, the assistant commandant of the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, said there are currently around 160,000 refugees in the settlement, with an average of 400 new arrivals per week from Sudan.

“These include arrivals from transit centres and others coming through different borders. We are facing many challenges due to funding cuts and the shrinking land allocated to refugees. There are also issues such as language barriers, chronic illnesses, and some refugees refusing to accept our services,” he explained.

About the digital system

An electronic medical records (EMR) system is a digital platform that stores, manages, and provides access to patients’ medical information, including their medical history, diagnoses, medications, test results, and treatment plans.

The system at Panyadoli HCIV, which cost approximately sh30 million, was installed with support from Action Against Hunger, an NGO operating in both the settlement and the host community.

According to Jamiru Mpima, a digital health specialist at the Ministry of Health, the digitisation of the health sector is part of the national manifesto. It was included in both the National Development Plan III and IV.

“For patients to receive quality and timely services, and the correct medication, we must go digital. This system will enhance efficiency, support data-driven decision-making, reduce costs, ensure service quality, improve medicine traceability, and enhance record management and monitoring,” he said.

Mpima added that Panyadoli HCIV is the 71st facility to be enrolled in the EMR system, which has so far focused mainly on general and referral hospitals.

He urged health workers and leaders to embrace the system, saying it would help tackle absenteeism and support the promotion process of health workers.

“Encourage yourselves to become champions of computer skills because they are crucial. These skills are still lacking among many health workers. Ensure that there is power and internet connectivity,” he said.

Dr Tezita noted that health workers at the facility have already embraced the system and are fully utilising it.

Sarah Namuli, the field coordinator for Action Against Hunger in Kiryandongo district, said the aim of introducing the system is to transform the facility from analogue to digital to improve service delivery.

“My appeal to the district leaders is to take ownership of this project and ensure it is fully utilised,” she said.

Edith Aliguma, the Kiryandongo LC5 chairperson, pledged full support to the health workers and promised to do whatever is necessary to support the facility.

Dan Muganga, the Kiryandongo resident district commissioner, promised to follow up on issues that require central government intervention. He also commended the implementing partners for complementing the government’s efforts to improve service delivery.