How can Uganda treat its doctors so?
Apr 14, 2009
<b>Letter of the day</b><br><br>EDITOR—On April 4, I read the story, “Uganda loses surgeons to Rwanda†with much surprise. I was surprised because the West has always envisaged Uganda as one of the countries in Africa with the best growing medical
Letter of the day
EDITOR—On April 4, I read the story, “Uganda loses surgeons to Rwanda†with much surprise. I was surprised because the West has always envisaged Uganda as one of the countries in Africa with the best growing medical systems!
It is such a shame if it is true that Uganda is losing such important medical resources to its tiny neighbour. I visited Uganda in 2003 while writing my PhD thesis in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. My topic was on Cancer and Organic Nutrition. It was meant to take two months but I ended up doing it in four days!
This is because I chanced on a very intelligent 25-year-old undergraduate aid doctor in Gulu, called Dr. Akena Andrew Okullu who seemed to have done the research thoroughly previously. A four-hour lecture and parting with $4,500 was enough to earn me a PhD and an accolade in the university’s journal of medicine— at the expense of this young man!
Four months later, I met him in SAAD Specialist Hospital in South Africa, doing research for a Western medical research body.
Dr. Akena is just an example of how many African intelligent medical resource is being unfairly exploited at the expense of their suffering people and countries.
Uganda’s health minister Dr Stephen Malinga, having served in the country’s public sector for quite a number of years especially in the health sector ought to be aware that Africa’s biggest problem is lack of proper policy governing the health sector.
And as a member of cabinet, he ought to advise cabinet on formulation of better policies to help maintain and retain the valuable medical resource Uganda is losing.
And this involves remuneration and benefits which include provision of utilities like accommodation, water, electricity, telephone services and decent transportation, better working conditions, increase of workforce, more medical facilities and equipment.
Political interference in the health sector should be avoided and there should be no nepotism in appointments and promotions.
There should be ‘a change of guard’. Uganda is one of the countries that has maintained people of over 60 years at the helm of the medical services and this has greatly either frustrated or hindered the progress of the young energetic, intelligent and resourceful health workers.
Unless this is done, all Uganda will do is have a dinosaur of a health system!
Dr Vincent G. Gonzalez Mexico City
EDITOR—On April 4, I read the story, “Uganda loses surgeons to Rwanda†with much surprise. I was surprised because the West has always envisaged Uganda as one of the countries in Africa with the best growing medical systems!
It is such a shame if it is true that Uganda is losing such important medical resources to its tiny neighbour. I visited Uganda in 2003 while writing my PhD thesis in one of the most prestigious universities in the world. My topic was on Cancer and Organic Nutrition. It was meant to take two months but I ended up doing it in four days!
This is because I chanced on a very intelligent 25-year-old undergraduate aid doctor in Gulu, called Dr. Akena Andrew Okullu who seemed to have done the research thoroughly previously. A four-hour lecture and parting with $4,500 was enough to earn me a PhD and an accolade in the university’s journal of medicine— at the expense of this young man!
Four months later, I met him in SAAD Specialist Hospital in South Africa, doing research for a Western medical research body.
Dr. Akena is just an example of how many African intelligent medical resource is being unfairly exploited at the expense of their suffering people and countries.
Uganda’s health minister Dr Stephen Malinga, having served in the country’s public sector for quite a number of years especially in the health sector ought to be aware that Africa’s biggest problem is lack of proper policy governing the health sector.
And as a member of cabinet, he ought to advise cabinet on formulation of better policies to help maintain and retain the valuable medical resource Uganda is losing.
And this involves remuneration and benefits which include provision of utilities like accommodation, water, electricity, telephone services and decent transportation, better working conditions, increase of workforce, more medical facilities and equipment.
Political interference in the health sector should be avoided and there should be no nepotism in appointments and promotions.
There should be ‘a change of guard’. Uganda is one of the countries that has maintained people of over 60 years at the helm of the medical services and this has greatly either frustrated or hindered the progress of the young energetic, intelligent and resourceful health workers.
Unless this is done, all Uganda will do is have a dinosaur of a health system!
Dr Vincent G. Gonzalez Mexico City