Stealing of medical drugs in Kagaadi

The Kagadi District health Inspector, Peter Situma has instituted a Health monitoring committee in Kagadi District to investige on the allegations of the sale of government drugs by Village Health Team Members (VHTs)

‘' I received several reports from Mpefu, Bwikara, Rugashali, Muhorro, Ndaiga and Mabale sub-counties that the Village Health team members are selling essential  government drugs such as coartem,  Paracetamol tablets, Rapid diagnosis test Boxes (RDT) among other drugs. I have impounded some drugs from drug shops of Village Health team members and investigations about other suspects are still going on'', said Situma.

Situma who declined to mention the particulars of the suspects for fear of jeopardizing investigations said, the suspects are Village Health team members who own drug shops in Mpefu, Kyaterekera, Bwikara, Ndaiga sub-counties.
He added that health Monitoring committee will comprise of District, sub-county, parish health leaders who will move in each village assessing the use of drugs by Village health team members.

‘'As i talk now, Two Village Health team members who have been masquerading as a midwives  in Kamina Ndaiga sub-county are in police custody at Mpefu Police Post Kagadi District, to help in investigations and are suspected to have also been selling essential government drugs.

We are going to arrest more. As Health workers, we can't sit back and watch the disappearance of government drugs at the expense of suffering Ugandans'', said Situma.


 He noted that severe malaria, typhoid, maternal mortality rate and infant morbidity are high in the above sub-counties attributing it to high population, self-medication and traditional birth attendants who assume roles of Mid-wives in the villages.
Situma explained that drugs such as Coarterm , paracetamols, Rapid diagnostic test are given to Village Health team member to distribute them freely  to expectant mothers, Children below five years and adults as a means of combating preventable diseases in village.
The inspector warned that his office has commenced investigation to arrest more members who have gone astray instead of serving the people as they were trained for. He has also directed the concerned citizens to report to his office whoever VHT member is found selling government medicine.

Situma said the drugs are from National medical stores for distribution to different villages to fight against diseases that have been claiming people's lives in Kagadi District.  He advised residents to embrace immunization programs, Voluntary Counseling & testing services as well as adopting family planning measures to curb the high population growth rate in Rugashali sub-county.

The Health Inspector was over the weekend (Saturday) addressing residents of Buhumuriro and Yerusalemu village in Rugashali and Kyakabadima sub-counties respectively  in Kagadi district during budget information conference organized by African Centre for Trade and Development (ACTADE)

ACTADE is a nongovernmental organisation operating in two sub-counties of Kyakabadima and Rugashali and targets empowering communities to advocate for their right to access information in their sub-counties on education and Health budgets as well as tasking District and Sub-county technical and political leadership to account for the financial and material resources meant to benefit the communities.

Meanwhile the  Programs Officer African for  centre and Development(ACTADE)  Lydia Ninsiima, emphasized on the need for the local people to Participate in Government budgets to influence priorities in government projection.

In their defense Village Health team members denied allegations of selling drugs to residents in villages saying they have been fulfilling their duties assigned to them.
Mary Asaba, one of the member of VHT in Rugashali sub-county said, contrary to the allegations, there is shortage of essential drugs to distribute to the affected residents citing severe malaria that has hit the village of Buhumuriro in Rugashali sub-county.

Paul Kyaligonza, another Village Health team member said: 'The major problem affecting the distribution of the said drugs is self-medication. Some residents do not complete the doze, others prefer administering drugs without advice from us'', said Kyaligonza.

Julius Atuhaire the Health in charge Rugashali Health center 111 said , the major challenge facing the Health center is severe Malaria, Children who come while urinating blood, the increasing number of patients especially those who seek antenatal and post-natal service has also affected good service delivery  and are always referred to Kagadi Hospital.
‘' We are seeking assistance from government to elevate Rugashali Health center 111 to health center IV due to high population'', said.