The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Nakaseke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 50 health workers at Nakaseke hospital are on the verge of being evicted from staff quarters due to poor hygiene. Government with support from World Bank injected about Shillings 17.6 billion in the renovation of Nakaseke hospital.
The construction work included the renovation of staff houses and construction of additional blocks. Chinese firm, Yanjian Company Limited, which refurbished the hospital handed it back to management in September 2015.
However, few years later, the staff quarters are in sorry state. They are surrounded by overgrown bushes and waste. The housing units are occupied by midwives, nurses, clinical officers and doctors among others.
Mariam Kaberuka, the chairperson Nakaseke hospital Management Committee, says a survey done by health inspector shows negligence on the part of the occupants, which explains the sorry state of the staff quarters.
Kaberuka says they have directed the occupants to clean the staff quarters and clear the surrounding bushes or else face disciplinary action including eviction.
A July 05, 2019, notice issued by the Environment and Health Department directs the health workers to clear bushes at least five meters from their housing units and keep them from vermin or vectors.
The notice warns that public health act will be enforced on those who fail to comply with the directive.
An official at Nakaseke Hospital says some health workers even face snake bites for leaving grass to grow near the verandas. He a expressed disappointment with some workers who cook inside the houses using firewood, which has affected their state.
Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka, the Nakaseke LC 5 Chairperson, says it is ashame for the health workers who teach residents to live in a conducive environment to be reminded to do so.
Koomu has thrown his weight behind the decision to evict health workers those who fail to maintain cleanliness and allocate the house to those who are willing to maintain them in good state.
None of the health workers were willing to comment on the eviction notice. According to section 95 of the public health act, no person shall within a municipality or town permit any premises or lands owned or occupied by him or her or over, which he or she has control to become so overgrown with bushes or long grass as, in the opinion of a medical officer of health, to be likely to harbour mosquitos.
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