Zombo Health workers spend much time in their own clinics

By Mike Rwothomio

There is bitterness amongst a sizable number of residents of Abanga Sub-county in Zombo district over what they claim is gross misconduct of most health workers of Pakadha health center III.

Pakadha health center III is the only running point to thousands of impoverished communities of Abanga, Padea town council, Jangokoro Sub County, and other surrounding areas.

A sizable number of Congolese residents on a daily basis also seek services from the facility that the community say grapples with a high shortage of drugs.

However, to some residents like  Okethi Frank from Pakadha Parish, abandoning much of the work for volunteers has become a norm.

” This is the only facility that helps us here. But these health workers besides coming late have left everything in the hands of volunteers, who are yet to learn things. No one can help us and we have nobody to run to because we are deeply rooted in the village” Okethi said.

A resident who opted not to be named said ” I can’t testify that last month, a mother from Jangokoro sub county gave birth by the roadside after She was brought here and no one was there to attend to her. These people tend to undermine people especially when you are poor. What makes it worse is that most of them have abandoned work for those volunteers” He explained before appealing for help from the district Authorities.

A female Student of Pakadha primary school in Abanga Subcounty revealed what she went through when she was seeking health care after she fell sick abruptly.

She accused the female health workers of being more arrogant to the locals.

” The worse thing is female health workers. They are so arrogant. They don’t listen to what you’re trying to tell them. That’s why many women fear to go to them” She told the Whisper Eye news.

Most health workers of Pakadha health center III spent much of their time in their own clinics according to a resident of Pakadha Parish only identified as Jakisa.

“We have suffered enough, they come late, and all of them have their own clinics. They spent much of their time in their own clinics. we are helpless ” He explained.

The residents claim no one either from the district health department or civil society organizations has taken a keen interest in monitoring service delivery at the facility that is the only destination for the less privileged community.

Pakadha health center III  attracts hundreds of People especially from some parts of Padea town council, Jangokoro sub-county, and different parts of the Sub-county since it’s the only health center III  facility around.

The Chairperson health unit management committee pakadha health center III Geoffrey Opoki acknowledged the concerns raised.

“It’s true that those people are disturbing people a lot, and they are ever late but as the Chairperson of the health committee, we are going to engage them. but am appealing for their mindset change other wise we are not going to tolerate what the community is complaining about” Opoki said.

When contacted for a comment over a battery of concerns raised by the community on the alleged misconduct of her staff, 
The Incharge Pakadha health center III Kesty Rajom declined to comment about any issue concerning Pakadha health center III on the grounds that she is not allowed to speak to the media.

” You can contact the District health officer because I can not talk to you” Rajom responded when Whisper Eye contacted her.

The team from the Non-governmental organization Action Aid Uganda, which is conducting an inspection of some health facilities being headed by Nelson Ogentho, On governance and social accountability is to publish a report about all health facilities in Zombo district this week.

Nelson Ogentho, A youth advocate with Action Aid Uganda told Whisper Eye that it’s high time the community spoke out on injustices of all civil servants without fear to streamline their work.

” We are currently moving in all health facilities across Zombo district and we shall report about all those staff including those ones of Pakadha health center III as well. People should not keep quiet, let them speak up because those offices belong to the community” Ogentho told the Whisper Eye News.

The LC 5 chairperson of Zombo district James Oruna Oyullu when contacted noted that he will get down to the bottom and come out with a well-researched report on  Pakadha health center III.