Medical workers appeal for President Museveni's sh1bn pledge

HEALTH|NURSES|MIDWIVES|MUSEVENI

KAMPALA - Medical workers under the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union have pledged to President Yoweri Museveni to fulfill his sh1b pledge.

The nurses and midwives led by their president, Cherop Kiplangat, said Museveni promised them a salary raise which has never been fulfilled.

Kiplangat made the remarks, Thursday, while addressing a press conference in Kampala.

He said that during the international nurses' day celebrations in 2019,  the President promised lunch allowances of sh15,000 per day translating into 330,000 per month.

"We need this money to improve welfare of the medical workers to carry out their work adequately. Health workers start work at their work station from 8:00am to 5:00pm and some stay working the whole day," Kiplangat said.

He added that health workers have too been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because  they are kept on job more than 8 hours saving lives, therefore, should also be looked after well.

Kiplangat argued that the government should consider giving risk allowances to all the nurses irrespective of where they are operating from, given the current circumstances people are going through.

 "As nurses and midwives, we live in dilapidated and sometimes condemned housing units. Health workers should be provided with accommodation so that they are not bothered to live with patients without full attention because they reside far away," he said.

He explained that the medical personnel are under staffed and their welfare should be considered.

In August this year, President Museveni pledged sh2b to be given to the teachers' SACCOS, to be used as a revolving fund that would be loaned to them.

The teachers have not been working since March when the President announced the closure of all educational institutions.

Public service speaks

When contacted, the Public Relationship Officer Public services, Joseph Ngobi explained that the government received the proposal of the nurses and Midwives request but there is no money.

"Government recognizes the fact that there is a need for the nurses to have an increment but there are no funds at the moment," Ngobi said.