Kampala: Legislators have urged the government to improve staffing within health centres across Uganda, noting that such improvements are vital for enhancing health service delivery, particularly in remote areas. This call comes in response to a statement by Health Minister Hon. Chris Baryomunsi regarding the status and impact of the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) health infrastructure programme and the proposed framework for UgIFT 2.
According to African Press Organization, during a session chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth, Baryomunsi announced that under the UgIFT programme, 373 Health Centre IIIs have been established by upgrading existing Health Centre IIs and constructing new facilities in sub-counties that previously lacked health services. This development is seen as a significant investment in improving access to health care and addressing geographical inequities, with the proportion of sub-counties having access to a Health Centre III increasing from 61% to 78%.
The Health Minister revealed that the World Bank has allocated shs453 billion for the upgrade, construction, and equipping of health facilities, while the Ugandan government has provided shs270 billion for maintenance and repair. Additionally, the government has recruited 4,628 health workers during the programme period. Baryomunsi added that the staffing at Health Centre IVs has increased, and the government plans to upgrade all such centres to community hospitals.
The proposed UgIFT 2 will focus on strengthening the human resource for health, ensuring the availability of essential medicines and supplies, and making infrastructure sustainable. The ministry aims to expand, rehabilitate, re-equip, and provide staff accommodation at 100 dilapidated Health Centre IIIs nationwide and establish 50 new Health Centre IIIs and 50 Health Centre IVs in heavily populated, hard-to-reach sub-counties.
Soroti District Woman MP, Hon. Anna Adeke, suggested an audit by the Auditor General to determine the number of non-functional facilities under UgIFT and needed improvements. She also advocated for revising the wage bill cap for local governments by the Ministries of Finance and Public Service to accommodate the operationalisation of UgIFT facilities.
Kwania District Woman Representative, Hon. Kenny Auma, highlighted that some upgraded Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs remain non-operational due to a lack of key health officers. Auma emphasized the necessity for the government to recruit more nurses, midwives, and clinical officers.
Entebbe Municipality MP, Hon. Steven Shyaka, pointed out staffing shortages and insufficient drug supplies at the Entebbe Referral Hospital, which operates with only 260 staff out of the needed 1,195. He noted that inadequate office space for doctors compromises doctor-patient confidentiality.
Hon. Joseph Ssewungu urged the ministry to support missionary or religious-founded health facilities with the deployment of medical staff and supplies, as they complement government health services. Hon. Peter Okot expressed concerns over poor electricity access in sub-counties with UgIFT health facilities, urging the government to address this issue in the UgIFT 2 programme.
Baryomunsi committed to engaging legislators during visits to their constituencies to ensure a thorough assessment of health facilities.