NPA calls for punitive measures among health corrupt officials

Sep 22, 2016

"People embezzle funds and steal drugs worth billions of money but nothing is done to them. They are taken to court and later released after a month because they have lawyers. What does this show in public?" he said.

CAPTION: The NPA vice chairman, Abel Rwendeire. Photo/ Ramadhan Abbey

The National Planning Authority (NPA) has called on government to introduce more punitive measures to discipline corrupt health officials.

The NPA vice chairman, Abel Rwendeire said current laws only encourage people to continue robbing funds and drugs, because no serious action is taken against the culprits.

"People embezzle funds and steal drugs worth billions of money but nothing is done to them. They are taken to court and later released after a month because they have lawyers. What does this show in public?" he said.

Rwendeire made the remarks while making a presentation titled: 'National Planning and Sustainable Development Goals for Health' at Kabila Country Club in Kampala.

This was during the 12th Joint Annual Scientific Conference under the theme: "From MDGs to SDGs: A Holistic Approach to Health for Sustainable Development" organised by Makerere College of Health Sciences.
 
Rwendeire said there is need for strong laws, which can lead to a long sentence and confiscation of their property to recover what is lost.

According to Rwendeire, such measures discourage others from doing the same. "Much of the health activities are donor funded and when one person does a mistake, it affects the entire country because the funders will immediately stop funding," he added.

Rwendeire said government needs to invest more research in the health sector to come up with better innovations to help in detecting several epidemics before they breakout.

"We have good brains but are utilized by other countries. I believe, if we invest in such brains it will help government cut costs, than waiting when the epidemics breakout and the country starts panicking," he added.

He also proposed the use the unemployed youth as Community Health Workers (CHWs) to sensitize communities on hygiene and sanitation as a preventive measure to the key common diseases.

"Why wait for cholera, diarrhea and malaria among others when it can be prevented. Most of these diseases are a result of poor sanitation, hygiene and poor life styles," he added.

Prof. Freddie Ssengooba, from the School of Public Health, said there is need to increase quality of services and control epidemic surveillance response, and preparedness.

"But this can only be achieved if we have quality coverage, strong systems and sustainable approaches," he added.

Dr. David Meya, a senior lecturer at the college of science, said there is need for cost effective and sustainable approaches, to improve the quality of health services.
"We believe CHWs can do a good job. It does not need someone to be a health professional to sensitize people about hygiene and spray people's houses to prevent to fight malaria," he noted.

He said government needs to increase the health budget by 15%, as per Abuja declaration.

The conference is aimed at coming up strategies on how the country can achieve the SDGs by 2040. It was attended by over 300 people including researchers, academicians, medical experts and students among others.

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