State Minister for Cooperatives cautions doctors against greed

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The State Minister for Cooperatives Fredrick Ngobi Gume, has cautioned doctors against greed which he says is killing cooperative societies in the country.

Gume was speaking during a function where a donation of COVID-19 protective gear was handed over to Kampala Medical and Health Workers Cooperative Society (KMHWCS) on Wednesday. He said several cooperatives are struggling and others have collapsed because of greed by their leaders.

The State minister said KMHWCS that was founded in 2017 must be focused on developing themselves, helping the country with innovations as opposed to power struggles that could ruin their vision at infancy stage.

“When you come together you become innovative and in that way you help the country. The government would need your support as you also need its support. Cooperatives don’t aim at making profits but aim at making savings. Problems that are killing cooperatives are lack of transparency. Some people join cooperatives with the aim of getting just into responsibility. You must safeguard yourself from this,” said Gume.

Personal protective gears ranging from jerrycans of sanitizers, face masks, temperature guns were donated to doctors by the Republic of Korea.

Dr. Dan Kagaha Atuhaire, the Chairperson of KMHWCS said doctors were facing challenges of dealing with patients especially in their private clinics without PPEs. Dr. Atuhaire said with donation of PPEs, doctors lives will be saved from the coronavirus.

At least 16 physicians, ophthalmologist and other health specialists are subscribers to KMHWCS, but Dr. Atuhaire said they were aiming at bringing more members on board. He added that the cooperatives will help doctors operating private clinics to pull resources together so that they benefit from a joint medical project.

The State Minister and Dr. Atuhaire applauded Korea for the donation of PPEs saying they are expensive to purchase. More than 200 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 though majority have already recovered.

******

URN