BY DENIS OMIJI
The Health Committee meeting at Dokolo Health Center IV yesterday was an eye-opener for the community as allegations of extortion were brought to light.
Health workers, specifically those working at the maternity ward and theater, were accused of collecting money from patients for conducting operations.
This caused an uproar among the community and raised concerns about corruption in government health facilities.
During the meeting, the incharge of Dokolo Health Center IV, Dr. Emmanuel Odur, strongly denied the allegations of extortion.
He emphasized that it is against government regulations to collect money from patients for services at public health facilities.
Additionally, he clarified that in certain situations, patients are asked to provide missing equipment necessary for operations, as the facility may not have it readily available.
This, he explained, is done in the best interest of the patient’s health and is not considered extortion.
However, Dr. Odur did acknowledge that the facility has received several complaints about this issue.
Despite their efforts, they have been unable to identify the source of these allegations and get to the truth of the matter.
This has caused distress among health workers at Dokolo Health Center IV as their integrity and professionalism have been questioned.
Sister Evaline Tracy Ajunu, the Assistant Nursing Officer in charge maternity at Dokolo Health Center IV, also denied any involvement in collecting money from patients.
She expressed her concern about the accusations, stating that midwives have a crucial role to play in saving the lives of pregnant mothers.
She assured that all health workers at the facility follow ethical guidelines and code of conduct for nursing professionalism.
The vice Chairperson of the Health Management Committee at Dokolo Health Center IV, Francis Duca, highlighted that patients themselves are also contributing to corruption at health facilities by willingly paying money for services that should be free.
However, he also mentioned that the facility is facing several challenges, such as limited space in all departments, shortage of drugs due to the increasing population, and inadequate staff accommodation.
Vice Chairperson of the District Council’s Health Committee, Rafael Okello, emphasized the importance of monitoring in identifying challenges within the health sector.
He shared that the Dokolo Health Center IV has been plagued with reports of patient extortion in various departments.
District Speaker Joel Opota Okuma also urged health workers to provide quality service to community members during the meeting.
He promised unwavering support and dedication to the district’s health workers.
The committee came to a consensus on key areas for improvement, including reducing the fee for preserving deceased bodies from 50,000 to 30,000.
They also discussed the need for more healthcare staff, construction of latrines, and put a firm stance against employees receiving money from patients.
Additionally, they addressed the issue of overcrowding in the Outpatient department and brainstormed solutions for its decongestion.
The Health Committee meeting brought these issues to the forefront and allowed for an open discussion to address them.
During LBS’s Odikoalyet radio show that runs every weekday from 8:00 – 9:30 am, It was evidenced that the allegations of extortion at Dokolo Health Center IV have caused a stir in the community as many callers from different parts of the district were backing up the truth of the matter.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a woman from Eastern Ward Dokolo town council explained how she was made to pay Ugx. 100,000 for her mother to get health care services from Dokolo health center IV recently.
Another caller narrated how one of the health workers at Dokolo health center IV received a bribe from a patient by making them to send to her phone to a tune of Ugx. 80,000.
