Drug inspectors complain of poor facilitation
Dec 12, 2009
Samson OLEMA’S job is to protect the population in three districts by ensuring that drugs are sold only in safe premises and they are safe for human consumption.
By Lydia namubiru
Samson OLEMA’S job is to protect the population in three districts by ensuring that drugs are sold only in safe premises and they are safe for human consumption.
He has confiscated syringes and pills from witchdoctors, nabbed drug shops selling fake products and blocked unqualified people from dispensing medicines.
But like many other district drug inspectors, the facilitation he gets cannot cover even a tenth of the areas he is supposed to police.
With a monthly allowance of sh150,000 that comes irregularly and a broken-down motorcycle, Olema often waits for a free ride in order to carry out drug inspection, sometimes getting stuck on the way. In extreme cases he has been transported by people whose drug shops he goes to inspect.
see our special report section for full feature
Samson OLEMA’S job is to protect the population in three districts by ensuring that drugs are sold only in safe premises and they are safe for human consumption.
He has confiscated syringes and pills from witchdoctors, nabbed drug shops selling fake products and blocked unqualified people from dispensing medicines.
But like many other district drug inspectors, the facilitation he gets cannot cover even a tenth of the areas he is supposed to police.
With a monthly allowance of sh150,000 that comes irregularly and a broken-down motorcycle, Olema often waits for a free ride in order to carry out drug inspection, sometimes getting stuck on the way. In extreme cases he has been transported by people whose drug shops he goes to inspect.
see our special report section for full feature