Men take on babysitting role as wives sit tests

By Jacquiline Emodek 

SILENCE, tension and anxiety engulfed Namboole Stadium main hall as over 2000 people, who turned up for job interviews at the Ministry of Health, sat for interviews.

The turn-up was overwhelming and the competition tight since the 2000 are competing for 219 job slots, which were recently advertised by the Health Service Commission.

With the deafening silence it is no wonder cries of babies attracted attention however the hand that comforted them this time was a fatherly one.

It was a sight for the sore eye as men took on the role of babysitting while their wives did the one hour tests.

Innocent Wanyela a counselor at Mbale Referral Hospital kept soothing his one month old baby girl and making sure she was properly wrapped because of the cold.

He said that on this specific day he had talked to his boss and requested for permission to escort his wife so that she could concentrate as she did her test.

For James Wobuya an anaesthetic officer at Mityana Hospital, he says he decided to accompany the wife and look after their six weeks old baby because she was still delicate while the maid stayed home to look after their other three children.

James said he was comfortable in his role and urged men to always help women look after the children.

“It is not like it is strictly a woman’s job, men should change their attitude,” he said.

“Now would she carry the baby and do the interview at the same time,” Wobuya went on.

Bosco Kitende a casual laborer who usually digs to earn a living said despite today being a good day for digging family had to come first.

“I am a man and I should take care of my family after all they are the reason I go to dig in different gardens,” he argued.

 The 2000 applicants are competing for 219 job slots. Photo by Nicholas Oneal

Notably most of the fathers were carrying young babies less than two months who they insisted needed to be in the company of their mother and so they did not mind helping their wives for the one hour.

Abel Okok the assistant commissioner for human resource management at the Health Service Commission said that the applicants are seeking to fill vacancies in the central health facilities.

These include; Mulago Hospital, Uganda Heart Institute, Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda Blood Transfusion Services and all regional hospitals.