Uganda registers steady progress on quality improvement implementation

By Wilson Manishimwe

The acting Director General Health Services in Ministry of Health Prof. Anthony Mbonye has said that Uganda surpassed many countries in Africa in Quality Improvement Implementation.

He revealed this during the closure of the 3rd National Health Care Quality Improvement conference at Serena Conference Center on Wednesday.

In a speech read for him by the assistant commissioner in charge of child health Dr. Jessica Nsungwa, Prof. Mbonye noted that the required quality health service delivery is not determined by abundance of resources but the efficient utilization of the available ones before adding more.

He also revealed that the country has for some time struggled to institutionalize quality improvement but it's evident that the country is making a break through.

Ms Robinah Kaitiritimba interacts with Theopista Wenene after presentation

 
The Executive Director Uganda Health Consumers Organization, Robinah Kaitiritimba, said that most people only visit health facilities when they are sick saying that most of them are at home with diseases like cervical cancer, Tuberculosis among others but aren't aware.

"Our people don't go for medical check-ups and some of them are at their homes with different diseases," Katiritimba said.

She also observed the need for improved interaction between patients and doctors noting that the poor interaction results into some patients failing to take medicines.

"Some patients throw away medicines after they have been given to them because of the poor interaction," Kaitiritimba said.

Dr. Martin Ssendyoona from Quality assurance department in Ministry of Health noted that the government has responsibility to provide health services to promote welfare to its citizens.