More health workers for better health

Mar 24, 2016

Nevertheless the total sector budget for these outcomes have increased from sh1220.97b in FY2015/16 to sh1460.920b in the FY 2016/17, which is a good development because a healthy population is a pre-requite to any development.


By Stella Mugena

While others say that the major challenge for Uganda health care system is posed by rapidly growing population, there are further challenges.

The health sector budget for the FY 2015/16 was designed to help achieve three sector outcomes of increased deliveries, protection of children under one year against life threatening diseases and ensuring that health facilities receive adequate stocks of essential medicines and health supplies.

Nevertheless the total sector budget for these outcomes have increased from sh1220.97b in FY2015/16 to sh1460.920b in the FY 2016/17, which is a good development because a healthy population is a pre-requite to any development.

Whereas the  budget estimates for FY 2013/14 outlined some priorities in the health Sector to be included in the  recruitment of health workers, improvement of infrastructure and eradicating malaria as key priorities to be considered.

According to the Health sector Ministerial Policy Statement for FY2016/17 sh36b is needed as wage for 3,542 health workers for general hospitals to meet 72% target by the end of FY 2016/17. These are all good gestures by the Government aiming at improving health service delivery right from the local to national level.

Although the country has registered many improvements in the health sector and in the health of its population, for example, there has been improvements in key health indicators like life expectancy at birth level, the health sector still experiences challenges in the recruitment and retention of qualified staff county wide.

According to the briefing from the  Budget Monitoring Accountability Unity ,  2013/14  the report showed that during the quarter two of the FY 2012/13  it identified a number of major challenges faced by the health sector among which included staff shortages, budget cuts for capital development, grants and inadequate funds for non-wage recruitment expenditures.

 Other research findings done by Ministry of Health and Capacity Project Support, it revealed that the working conditions among the health workers are often characterised by poor infrastructure, lack of staff accommodation, inadequate equipment and supplies, work overload among others.

These poor working conditions neither attract staff nor motivate them to stay and as a result, there is a shortage of human resource.

 Too many tasks and responsibilities

This is evident in most of the government centres, midwifery and nursing staff say that they are stretched to the limit by too many tasks "You have to run an antenatal clinic, conduct deliveries and carry out post-natal to the ward round. You have to do the counseling, take blood, see patients and prescribe for them medicine." A fact from the District Health Officer Dr Byabashaija Aine he said that there are only 300 health workers in the whole district of Sheema, who are not enough to serve the community, he expressed this while attending the community budget advocacy meeting held in Sheema town hall recently.

The government of Uganda has registered low staffing levels in most of the health centers at national and local level. According to the National Development Plan 2010/11-2014/15 it highlights the shortages of health workers as a major challenge in improving the health of Uganda's population. The ratio of worker to population in Uganda is 1:1298, one doctor in Uganda serves an average of 10,000 people which is against to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 1:439.

Which way then for the health sector? What needs to be changed?

The sh2.5m salary  increment per month set aside for the medical officers in health center IVs is a good motivation however similar pay should be extended to health workers most especially in hard to reach areas like Agago, Kibaale ,and Abim, as well as a motivation for them to serve the communities  dedicatedly. Quick action should be taken by the government in the next budget.

There is need for coordinated planning by the Ministry of health to improve and harmonize staff recruitment and deployment in the country, by allocating 36bn for recruitment of 3,542 health workers who are needed to cover the gap. Furthermore the health sector needs UGX13.5bn to recruit and retain 300 doctors and pharmacists, otherwise the health centers built will remain white elephants and death traps.

 The writer works with the CIVIL SOCIETY BUDGET ADVOCACY GROUP (CSBAG)

 

 

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