Hon. Katusiime Jovia Mbabazi, Woman Member of Parliament for Kiryandongo District and a Member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, yesterday continued the Kiryandongo District Health Centre Outreach Programme with its second community outreach, held at Masindi Port Health Centre III.
The outreach was attended by Mrs. Natasha Gloria, Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Anslem Kyaligonza Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Ojok Steven District Police Commander Kiryandongo, Dr. Irene Nabitaka Acting District Health Officer, Dr. Kyaligonza Moses, In-Charge of Masindi Port Health Centre III, Local Leaders, Health Workers and community members also took part.
The outreach aims to bring essential healthcare closer to rural communities. Services include free medical consultations, maternal and child healthcare, health education, disease screening and treatment. It also gives residents a direct platform to raise the challenges affecting healthcare delivery in their area.
Challenges raised at Masindi Port Health Centre III
▪️ Poor roads: Bad roads, especially in the rainy season, delay patients from reaching the facility and slow emergency referrals to higher-level hospitals, where every minute counts.
▪️ Unreliable electricity: Frequent power cuts disrupt night deliveries, laboratory work, vaccine cold-chain storage and emergency care.
▪️ Selling of drugs and supplies: Items meant to be free are reportedly being sold, burdening poor patients and eroding public trust in the facility.
▪️ Understaffing: Too few health workers means long waiting times, staff burnout, and limited services and community outreach.
▪️ Women avoiding maternity services: Many women deliver elsewhere, which raises the risk of birth complications and maternal and newborn deaths.
▪️ Intimidation of health workers: Some residents pressure staff to give services at their homes. This threatens staff safety and leaves patients at the facility without care.
Addressing residents, Hon. Katusiime pledged to present these issues before the Parliamentary Health Committee. She will also formally engage the Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, to seek lasting solutions.
She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening healthcare services and ensuring that every community in Kiryandongo District has access to quality and affordable healthcare.
