Install CCTV cameras in gov't health facilities

Jul 27, 2017

Nabatanzi said government should hire a private company to obtain and install these cameras and in case the system fails to work, the company is held accountable.

The deputy director, Health Monitoring Unit (HMU), Dr. Julian Nabatanzi has advised government to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) in government hospitals.

She said this will help in dealing with the issue of some health workers extorting money from patients in exchange for health services which are supposed to be free in government health centres.

She made these remarks during a meeting at Naguru regional hospital, where the team from HMU was handing over some items like latex examination gloves and absorbent cotton gauze to help out in the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Nabatanzi said government should hire a private company to obtain and install these cameras and in case the system fails to work, the company is held accountable.

She said the problem of extortion in government health facilities is very rampant, but it is very hard to get the culprits with limited evidence and the affected patients fearing to speak out.

Giving an example of absorbent cotton gauze, she noted they are supposed to be free of charge, but some health workers ask patients to pay for them.

"In government health facilities, services are free. But some health workers extort money from patients especially those who do not know the services are free or even fear reporting them because they fear they will not be attended to," she said

"By installing CCTV cameras, we can get health workers involved in extorting money from patients and deal with them accordingly," she added

In September last year, Amina Zalwango, a health worker was arrested for taking a bribe of sh400,000 from Maria Namatovu who was due for a cesarean birth at Naguru Hospital.

The operation by the Health Monitoring Unit under State House was done after a tip off by a relative of Namatovu

At Naguru hospital, they gave out 20 boxes of latex examination gloves (where each box contains 100 pieces of drugs), and 40 rolls of absorbent cotton gauze.

They also delivered 25 boxes of gloves and 54 rolls of cotton gauze to Kawempe hospital which is an annex of Mulago national referral hospital.

The director of Naguru regional hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Batibwa thanked the HMU team for their gesture, adding that the hospital is undersupplied with child-delivery materials which is very frustrating.

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