Action on corruption commendable
Oct 07, 2009
THE noose seems to be finally tightening on government officials who cause Ugandan tax payers lose millions of shillings and deny them basic services.
THE noose seems to be finally tightening on government officials who cause Ugandan tax payers lose millions of shillings and deny them basic services.
The Permanent Secretary of the health ministry, Mary Nannono, has been suspended over what looks like obstruction in carrying out instructions meant to address theft of drugs in public health facilities.
According to a letter written by President Yoweri Museveni to the head of public service, Nannono refused to label medicines in a bid to prevent them from being sold in shops owned by medical workers.
She also opposed the buying of bulk medicines through the National Medical Stores, instead of sending money to the districts which could be stolen or diverted.
In addition, the permanent secretary refused to sign the health review conclusions, effectively blocking the release of 8 million euros grant from France.
Furthermore, she suggested that only sh500m of the almost sh11b sent to Mulago for the purchase of drugs be used for that purpose.
On top of that, she gave wrong figures to Parliament, claiming only sh52b had been allocated to the Ministry of Health, whereas the true figure was almost sh71b.
Saturday Vision in a series of articles exposed the inefficiency and high absenteeism of medical workers in up-country health centres.
Most centres visited were found closed during working hours, drugs were inadequate and laboratories ill-equipped. The few hours they opened a day, less than half of the staff was present. Negligence is said to account for 10% of all maternal deaths in Uganda.
Suspending Nannono and labelling medicines might not be enough to ensure that drugs reach the poor and medical workers do their job.
Better supervision is needed of all medical facilities, with regular impromptu visits by mobile teams. Tough disciplinary action should be taken against staff found absent. Of health facilities that are closed during working hours, those in charge should face even stiffer penalties, including dismissal. There should be no mercy for those who cause the death of others through negligence.
The Permanent Secretary of the health ministry, Mary Nannono, has been suspended over what looks like obstruction in carrying out instructions meant to address theft of drugs in public health facilities.
According to a letter written by President Yoweri Museveni to the head of public service, Nannono refused to label medicines in a bid to prevent them from being sold in shops owned by medical workers.
She also opposed the buying of bulk medicines through the National Medical Stores, instead of sending money to the districts which could be stolen or diverted.
In addition, the permanent secretary refused to sign the health review conclusions, effectively blocking the release of 8 million euros grant from France.
Furthermore, she suggested that only sh500m of the almost sh11b sent to Mulago for the purchase of drugs be used for that purpose.
On top of that, she gave wrong figures to Parliament, claiming only sh52b had been allocated to the Ministry of Health, whereas the true figure was almost sh71b.
Saturday Vision in a series of articles exposed the inefficiency and high absenteeism of medical workers in up-country health centres.
Most centres visited were found closed during working hours, drugs were inadequate and laboratories ill-equipped. The few hours they opened a day, less than half of the staff was present. Negligence is said to account for 10% of all maternal deaths in Uganda.
Suspending Nannono and labelling medicines might not be enough to ensure that drugs reach the poor and medical workers do their job.
Better supervision is needed of all medical facilities, with regular impromptu visits by mobile teams. Tough disciplinary action should be taken against staff found absent. Of health facilities that are closed during working hours, those in charge should face even stiffer penalties, including dismissal. There should be no mercy for those who cause the death of others through negligence.