The State House Health Monitoring Unit has raised serious concerns about deliberate absenteeism among health workers in the Busoga sub-region. Over the past two weeks, officials from the unit have conducted spot checks on Health Center IIIs and IVs, revealing troubling trends.
Warren Namara, the Head of the Unit, noted that some staff members fake sickness and study leaves to spend time in private practice, only showing up at their designated government facilities at their convenience. “Some staff fake sickness and study leaves, only to spend time in private practice, and show up at their designated government facilities at leisure,” Namara stated.
However, Namara also acknowledged the challenge of limited human resources in the health services sector due to the prevailing wage bill. He suggested that District Service Commissions re-advertise the jobs of health workers who are absconding from duty and employ those willing to serve the community.
In addition to absenteeism, Namara raised concerns about land ownership challenges faced by health facilities, which often lack proper land titles and are vulnerable to encroachment. “Land is lucrative and only a genuine title can affirm ownership. We are registering population growth daily and there are plans of expansion, but if this untitled land is grabbed by encroachers, where will the government erect new infrastructure?” he questioned.
Maxwell Kuwembula, the Kamuli LCV Chairperson, explained that land in the region is largely owned on a customary basis, with some individuals offering their land for development.
However, disputes arise when grandchildren of the original owners claim ownership. Kuwembula called on the Ministry of Health to intervene by titling all land occupied by health facilities to safeguard it from encroachers.
As these issues persist, there is an urgent need for effective solutions to ensure that health facilities in the Busoga sub-region can operate efficiently and expand as needed to serve the growing population.