Health workers at Kassanda Health Centre IV have been warned against negligence and absenteeism following concerns over poor service delivery in government health facilities across Kassanda District.
The warning was issued by officials from the State House Health Monitoring Unit after an inspection exercise aimed at assessing the performance of government health facilities in the district.
According to Dr. Stephen Ataro Ayella, Deputy Head of the Health Monitoring Unit, the team spent several weeks monitoring operations in different health centres and uncovered serious gaps affecting healthcare delivery, many linked to negligence and absenteeism among some health workers.
“We have moved through several government health facilities in Kassanda and found disturbing levels of absenteeism and negligence among some health workers. This has greatly affected the quality of healthcare services offered to the public,” Dr. Ataro said.
He said the inspection was intended to identify weaknesses in the health system and recommend measures to improve service delivery in government hospitals and health centres.
Following the exercise, officials from the Health Monitoring Unit held a debrief meeting with district leaders, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), district health officials, and local leaders, to discuss the findings and possible interventions.
Dr. Ataro also pointed to corruption in recruitment as another challenge affecting the district, saying some individuals allegedly secure government jobs through irregular means despite lacking the required qualifications.
“Corruption in recruitment continues to undermine service delivery because some people secure jobs without the necessary competence. This must stop if public health services are to improve,” he added.
The Chief Administrative Officer of Kassanda District, Jesca Ndagire Nsobya, cautioned health workers against neglecting their duties or misusing government positions.
“Any health worker found neglecting patients or absent from duty without justification will face disciplinary action. Government jobs are meant to serve the people,” Nsobya warned.
She urged medical staff to strengthen their commitment to patient care in order to restore public trust in government health facilities.
District leaders acknowledged ongoing challenges in the health sector, including shortages of medical personnel, inadequate drug supplies, and limited medical equipment.
However, they noted that negligence among some health workers has worsened service delivery challenges, particularly in rural health centres where patients already face barriers to accessing care.
Officials expressed hope that continued monitoring and supervision of health facilities will improve accountability, strengthen service delivery, and enhance healthcare outcomes for residents.
