Remove cap on health workers recruitment -Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has asked government to remove the ban on recruitment of health workers.

Kadaga is concerned that despite the growing population, the health sector has maintained a ban on recruitment of health workers.

“We still have a shortage of medical personnel but the health sector has a ban on recruitment, which has been on for long,” she said adding that “It is meaningless to have inadequate staffing with a population of 40 million, so who will treat people?”

She made the call during the launch of Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NAWMP) Strategic Plan at Parliament on Wednesday, 15 August 2018.

NAWMP seeks to advocate for maternal, newborn and adolescent health.

The Speaker urged NAWMP members to speak against the proposed government plan to abolish Health Centre IIs saying it is a threat to access to health services.

“I am still opposed to the removal of Health Centre IIs because I do not believe that everybody lives within a 5km radius of a health centre,” she said.

Kadaga added, “Women are required to attend eight antenatal visits, but with all this walking, women will relax.”

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Betty Aol, noted that poor staffing levels are associated with poor service delivery in public health facilities.

“In my constituency, people still call me asking for transport from Gulu Hospital to other private health facilities,” said Aol. She urged government to step up efforts in the entire health sector citing the unceasing stock out of medical supplies.