Health volunteers have been banned from serving in any public health facilities in Sirinko district.
The decision was reached following the directive from the ministry of health which was circulated to all district and local governments. The announcement was made by the Chief Administrative officer Sirinko district, Nelson Kirenda.
According to Kirenda, the district had over 200 volunteers serving in different health facilities across the district including the Health Center IIIs and IVs.
Volunteers have been playing a big role in health facilities like conducting immunization, prescribing medicine and treating patients.
According to Kirenda, the government found out that Many public health workers have been absenting themselves from work with some of them not working at all, leaving the whole work for the volunteers.
Further he noted that, some of the volunteers have been involved in stealing government drugs since they are not paid by the government. The COA also added that it was hard to trace them or hold them accountable since they don’t report to his office.
Kirenda however warned that any health facility that will be found continuing to keep the volunteers despite the new directive will be dealt with accordingly.
However, the new directive has been met with criticism. The councilor representing Sirinko Town council, Dison Balayo, disagreed with the ban noting that it will affect service delivery negatively. He noted that most of the government health facilities are understaffed and the volunteers have been feeling that gap.
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