Apac health centres lack medical equipment
Mar 12, 2009
HEALTH centres in Apac district lack equipment, MPs were told on Monday. The district health officer, Dr. Mathew Emer, said the hospitals also lacked fuel for their ambulances.
By Patrick Opio
HEALTH centres in Apac district lack equipment, MPs were told on Monday. The district health officer, Dr. Mathew Emer, said the hospitals also lacked fuel for their ambulances.
“After referring a patient to a better health facility, we ask the relatives to buy fuel for the ambulance. This is illegal, but we have no choice,†he said.
Emer was addressing a meeting organised by Woman MPs Betty Amongi (Apac) and Francisca Akello (Pader) at Scouts Hall on Monday.
The meeting, which discussed health issues, was attended by heads of health units, LC5 councillors and civil society organisations.
Emer said teenage pregnancies were rampant and lead to high maternal deaths.
He said the Government had reduced the sector’s annual ceiling of sh2.5b to sh1.4b, adding that the shortfall could lead to non-payment of salaries for health workers before the end of this financial year.
Apac Hospital was built in 1974 but has never been renovated since.
It has over 1,000 patients compared to its original capacity of 100, he said.
Amongi said the findings would be tabled before Parliament for discussion.
She said the fact-finding mission would use the data to lobby for more budget allocations to the health sector.
Akello said the group was focusing on maternal health and the HIV/AIDS prevalence among women.
“We have realised that many lives are lost in health units due to lack of equipment,†she said.
HEALTH centres in Apac district lack equipment, MPs were told on Monday. The district health officer, Dr. Mathew Emer, said the hospitals also lacked fuel for their ambulances.
“After referring a patient to a better health facility, we ask the relatives to buy fuel for the ambulance. This is illegal, but we have no choice,†he said.
Emer was addressing a meeting organised by Woman MPs Betty Amongi (Apac) and Francisca Akello (Pader) at Scouts Hall on Monday.
The meeting, which discussed health issues, was attended by heads of health units, LC5 councillors and civil society organisations.
Emer said teenage pregnancies were rampant and lead to high maternal deaths.
He said the Government had reduced the sector’s annual ceiling of sh2.5b to sh1.4b, adding that the shortfall could lead to non-payment of salaries for health workers before the end of this financial year.
Apac Hospital was built in 1974 but has never been renovated since.
It has over 1,000 patients compared to its original capacity of 100, he said.
Amongi said the findings would be tabled before Parliament for discussion.
She said the fact-finding mission would use the data to lobby for more budget allocations to the health sector.
Akello said the group was focusing on maternal health and the HIV/AIDS prevalence among women.
“We have realised that many lives are lost in health units due to lack of equipment,†she said.