Ogom HC III hit by drug shortage, understaffing

PADER - Ogom Health III in Pader district has been hit by drug stock-out as well as understaffing.

 "We are understaffed. Out of 19 health workers, only 10 are available and we are overwhelmed when a big number of patients turn up," said Joyce Lanyero, the in-charge at the facility.

She said the stock-out stems from inadequate supplies by National Medical Stores (NMS) especially essential drugs for treating malaria, cough and others.

The in-charge at the facility Joyce Lanyero (left) talks of the problems at Ogom. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

Drugs hardly last two weeks as malaria is the main illness people in the area suffer from, she added.

Lanyero was briefing officials of ActionAid Uganda who were on a field tour to assess the social service delivery and corruption-related cases in Pader.

According to the in-charge, not only is the facility grappling with shortage of health workers and drugs, it also lacks pit-latrines for patients.

The health centre also lacks a maternity ward, an in-patient unit and a microscope to detect malaria. Broken windows are also yet to be repaired.

"We don't have pit-latrines for patients. When nature calls they just go to the bush and others just control it until they go back to their homes,"  Lanyero told officials.

She said the centre has lost records after rain water entered the room where records were kept through its broken window.

Bosco Dagama Oryem, a community monitor of Corom village in Ogom sub-county,  said sometimes the health workers report to work late and during weekends the health facility is closed.

Responding to the concerns of the community and health workers, Pader LC5 vice chairperson, Patrick Obua admitted that there is shortage of health workers and drugs and said the district leadership is addressing gaps of absenteeism and late reporting.

"We made a big promise of leading by example and the reporting time is 8:00am while the technocrats report at 8:30am and this should happen at all health centres," he said.

Pader LC5 vice chairperson Patrick Obua responded to the concerns. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

An on-spot check was carried out in some health centres and it was found that some staff had adhered to time-keeping while others were still struggling, he added.

On drug shortage, Obua advocated for the pull system instead of push one so that the district orders for the drugs and not National Medical Stores deciding for them.

He said when the situation is unbearable, some health centres borrow drugs from those that have.

He cited Latigi Health centre II and Achwa Army Bridge II as having borrowed drugs, forcing the district leadership to write to NMS.

"The drug stock-out takes place within two weeks and yet the supplies are supposed to last for a month," Obua said.

Patients waiting to be attended to at Ogom Health Centre III. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

A young girl walks in the bush within the Ogom Health Centre III where patients go and help themselves as there are no toilets. (Credit: Francis Emorut)