The appalling state of Kyanamukaaka Health Center IV in Kyanamukaaka, Sub-County in Masaka district has paralyzed work at the health center. Kyanamukaaka Health Center IV serves patients from the 59 villages in the sub county. The health center receives about 120 patients on average each day. However, the health Center is faced with various challenges including lack of electricity, accommodation for both patients and health workers and operates in dilapidated structures.
Anent Nakirija, an intern says that power to Kyanamukaka health center was disconnected 8 months ago living patients, their attendants and health workers in absolute darkness. Nakirijja says that the staff quarters are also in a very sorry state, which has forced several health workers to abandon the quarters in search of better alternatives. Andrew Ssenfuka, who was admitted at Kyanamukaaka Health Center, told URN that the senior medical workers take advantage of the staff accommodation problem to abscond from work.
He says that since he was admitted at the health center last week, he has only been attended to by interns. Ssenfuka also accuses some of the health personnel of taking advantage of the lack of supervision to extort money from patients. Rehema Nanngoozi, an expectant mother says that because of lack of electricity the hospital management asks patients to carry lamps. A health official who declined to be named for fear of being reprimanded because he is not authorized to speak to journalists told URN, that both theatre and laboratory have been closed because of lack of electricity.
The source says that even the generator that was bought to power the health center in case of emergencies, stopped functioning due to lack of fuel. He explains that previously, the hospital management used to collect money from patients to fuel the generators but the arrangement was resisted by patients. As a result, expectant mothers are helped to deliver using torches or candles provided by their attendants. The hospital administrator has not yet commented as he was out of office, when URN visited the health center, and his secretary refused to give URN his telephone contacts.
But Doctor Theresa Najuma, the assistant Southern Regional health supervisor says that she has repeatedly petitioned the sub county authority to intervene and address problems at the health center in vain. Najuma explains that the hospital acquired three solar panels to light up the hospital last year but they were stolen. Paul Migadde, the LC III chairman Kyanamukaka sub county says that they petitioned the health ministry to help rehabilitate the health center but there has been no response.
He says that about shillings 400 million is needed to repair the health center and construct additional staff houses, but his sub county lacks the funds. Kyanamukaka healthy centre was built by community with the help of World Vision, but it started deteriorating when World Vision pulled out in 2009.
