Mpigi Leaders Push for Upgrade of Health Centre Iv Amid Rising Patient Load and Staff Shortages

Leaders in Mpigi District, Uganda, are urgently appealing to the government and the Ministry of Health to upgrade Mpigi Health Centre IV to a fully-fledged hospital. The facility is struggling to cope with an overwhelming patient load, persistent staff shortages, and a lack of essential medical supplies.

Mpigi Health Centre IV is the highest-level government health facility in the district, serving residents from Mpigi, Wakiso, and neighboring areas. Local leaders report that the facility is facing immense pressure due to increasing demand for services, which strains the limited workforce and available resources. District records indicate that approximately 12,593 pregnant women received antenatal care services at the facility during the last financial year alone, excluding thousands of other patients seeking treatment for various health conditions.

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We all know there are challenges affecting service delivery at this facility. I want to make it clear that reports about patients being charged money are true. It is not the only problem; there are several practices here that are against the law.

An emergency meeting convened at the facility addressed serious complaints that some patients were being charged for services that should be offered free of charge in government health facilities. District Chairperson Simon Peter Kawuki, Mawokota North MP Amelia Kyambadde, and Mpigi Town Council Mayor Faridah Sempala were among those in attendance.

District Health Officer Dr. Joseph Batte acknowledged the unlawful practice of charging patients, stating, "It is not the only problem; there are several practices here that are against the law." He also noted instances of patient mistreatment and rude conduct from health workers. Umar Dumba, the facility's in-charge, initially denied the allegations but later admitted that some staff members had asked patients for money. He attributed some incidents to chronic shortages of supplies, explaining that staff sometimes ask patients to buy necessary items like gloves when they are unavailable, so treatment can proceed.

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Sometimes a health worker needs to perform a procedure but there are no gloves available. A health worker cannot handle blood without protective equipment. In such situations, some staff ask patients to buy the required items so that treatment can proceed.