Isaac Ekellot, the officer in charge of the Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Clinic says that at least six clients have missed the medicine since the operations at the facility became complicated. According to Ekellot, the impasse in the facility has also affected the Community Awareness, Screening, Testing and Treatment of the Tuberculosis campaign launched last week.
Martha Aniro, a caretaker was found struggling with her grandmother, Demeterina Amonyo in an emergency room. Aniro said that she had returned to the same facility after failing to access treatment from the private facility last week.
In her explanation, Aniro said that she had exhausted all the money she had on tests conducted in a private facility without treatment. On Monday morning, the old woman collapsed while waiting for treatment at Princess Diana, forcing the medics to rush her to the emergency room. She recovered moments later but her attendant had to call her family in Okulai Village, Kamuda Sub County to arrange for more money for her medication in the private clinic.
Another patient, Justine Etiau, who has been battling diabetes for eight years in Asinge Cell in Arapai Ward told our reporter that his condition has deteriorated since he failed to get medicine from the facility last week.
“I was here on March 11 and February 21 but returned home with only Amoxyll capsules… Unfortunately, I cannot even go to the private clinic because some of those people have little knowledge on how to manage my condition,” he said.
Joshua Edogu, the Soroti City Mayor says he is surprised that the facility services are paralyzed by acts of negligence at the expense of community health. He added that the matter had been resolved during a meeting he chaired last month. The City Clerk was not in his office and didn’t pick up our calls when contacted for a comment on the matter.
