BUNYORO MOTHERS CHARGED MONEY FOR CAESARIAN SECTION DELIVERIES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

By Yosam Gucwaki

www.mknewslink.com

In Bunyoro

Government hospitals and lower health units in Bunyoro sub region are said to be charging patients before getting certain services.

This is according to the position paper presented by Recreation for Development and Peace (RDP) and Action Aid Uganda to the local leaders during the regional Anticorruption dialogue at Masindi Booma grounds on Friday.

The dialogue organized by RDP in conjunction with action aid Uganda was attended by RDCs, LCV chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers among others from the four district of Masindi, Hoima, Kiryandongo and Bulisa.

Presenting the position paper, Biira Kiwanuka Nassa, the Executive Director Mid-Western RegionAnti-corruption Coalition(MIRAC) indicated that according to their research they discovered that for a woman to deliver by caesarian section at Masindi hospital it requires her to pay 200, 000 Ugandan shillings before being worked on.

He further explained that delivering by caesarian section at Hoima regional referral hospital it costs 400,000 Uganda shillings.

Biira also noted that every delivery at most public facilities across the region is charged between 20,000 and 50,000 Ugandan shillings.

He also said that at Nyantozi health centre III in Budongo Sub county Bujenje county Masindi district mama kits are sold at 30,000 Ugandan shillings.

He further indicated that most health facilities run without gloves while Kijenga health centre II in Miirya Sub County has no gloves at all adding that at Kiryandongo hospital gloves are sold at 4000 shillings a pair.

He also disclosed that vaccination against hepatitis B is charged between 3,000 and 5,000 shillings at Masindi army barracks health centre IV.

Biira added that the whole of Bulisa district has one ambulance despite the many health complications which require ambulance services. He also revealed that some divisions have no health units at all citing Kigulya division in Masindi municipality and Kahoora Division In Hoima Municipality.

Cosams Byaruhangs the Masindi district LCV chairperson v confirmed that the issues presented are true and are there on ground. However he said that residents of Bunyoro are not yet empowered enough to fight corruption.

Byaruhanga also blamed residents of Bunyoro for embracing corruption explaining that people in this region embraced corruption and they believe in it.

When contacted Dr. Vicent katusiime the Masindi medical Supretendant said he doesnt tolerate such vices explaining that he cant rule it out because there could be some few individuals who are practicing it.

He called upon the people of Masindi to always report to him in case they are asked for money saying that such a vice needs concerted effort to be fought.

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