Thousands appeal to government over poor health facilities.

Thousands appeal to government over poor health facilities.

By Hope Mafaranga

In Kabarole

Thousands of people in Kibiito sub-county in Kabarole district have appealed to government to improve on the poor road network and poor health facilities in the area.

The residents said they walk about 30 kms in the mountainous area seeking for health services at Rwagimba health center III.

They said that the Government and Kabarole district leadership in particular have failed to extend social services in their area.

 The most affected villages are Buryampaho, Rwagimba, Busanda, Bukara and Bulyambaghu.

According to William Mumbere an elder in the area said that the health center rarely has drugs because vehicles, boda-boda and bicycles don’t reach there.

Mumbere said that once in while when the drugs are delivered to the health, the delivery van stops at Kinyampanika primary school and they mobilize the community to carry drugs their head to the health center.

“When we get drugs we mobilize the community and divide the drugs so that people can carry it to Rwagimba health center III,
on their head,” he said.

He added that as a result many people have resorted to treat their disease using herbs while others seek healing from Rwagimba hot springs.

Mumbere noted that because of poor road infrastructure when people fall sick, the community use traditional stretchers to carry them to the health center.

“It is so unfortunate that we suffer carrying our people on stretchers but when we get to the health center, the workers and drugs are not there, we end up loosing our dear ones,” he added.

However Joshua Bulimbenda the LC I chairperson of Bulyambaghu village  disclosed that due to poor road network and poor health facilities, many expectant mothers die before reaching to the health center.

“It takes about six hours to walk to the health center and as a result, many of our women and unborn babies have died before getting there,” he said.

He explained that many women have resorted to traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in their area.

Joan Masika a TBA in the area revealed that she delivers received between 10 to 15 women per month.

“Many women come to me because the health center is far, hard to reach, no health workers and drugs,” Masika who charges sh 30,000 for her services said.

 When KC contacted a health worker who spoke on conditions of anonymity said that, at times they spend five months without drugs. The health worker also said that sometimes the center is given expired drugs.

“We have over 400 doses of corterm which was delivered in 2009 while it was already expired,” he said.

KC observed that the maternity wing has been turned into a staff accommodation and beds which were in the general ward did not have mattresses.

Other roads in Kibiito sub-county were constructed through LGDP funds leaving Rwagimba road, Rogers Baluku another resident stated.

However the Kabarole district engineer Steven Wakatama said that Rwagimba road was not in the district work plan.

On the status of the health center, the district health officer Dr Richard Mugahi promised to investigate why expired drugs were delivered  there, adding that he will deal the absenteeism of health workers.

“I will investigate how the expired drugs were delivered there because we don’t even accept drugs that will expire in within six months,” Dr Mugahi said.

End.