Surrender Malaba Hospital Land- DG Odera orders Land grabbers

Teso,

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

Busia Deputy Governor Arthur Odera has given notice to private developers accused of grabbing land belonging to a hospital in Malaba town to relinquish it back to the county for improvement of health services in the area.

Odera who is the Chief Executive Committee Member for Health said plans to repossess the land were at an advanced stage, calling on area leaders to support the initiative aimed at facilitating the expansion of Malaba dispensary.

The busy Malaba dispensary serves about 50,000 people, majority of whom are residents of Malaba town and a good number from Uganda due to its proximity to the border hence the need for upgrading it to a referral hospital to serve more.

“If you are occupying hospital land, surrender immediately. It's our priority as a county to repossess that land for expansion of health services to hundreds of Malaba residents,” the DG said.

“This is an urban facility and going by the population of Malaba town, this is one hospital that needs a bigger ward. The hospital will be upgraded to be able to address health needs of the people of Malaba and this plan will be executed after repossessing grabbed land,” added Odera.

He spoke after an impromptu tour of the hospital accompanied by County Assembly Deputy Speaker and Malaba Central MCA Ronald Ochalu.

According to the DG, the health facility has received more health personnel as the county races to ensure enough workers are deployed to hospitals in the county in bid to improve service delivery.

“The county leadership has taken a significant step in revamping the health sector by deploying more health care workers in line with demand so as to offer affordable health services and also solicit more revenue to the county through NHIF scheme,” Odera said.

The DG added that, “Majority of the patients in this facility are people living within Malaba town and the distance they cover to access it is not long. So, we will improve services here."

With just two months after he took over the leadership of the County Health Department as a CECM, the DG has acknowledged that the health sector in the county is facing numerous challenges thus needing maximum attention.

“I know the hospital has problems because it has inadequate manpower but this is a challenge we are addressing. We have also learnt from the hospital in-charge that there is inadequate equipment. But I want to promise the people of Malaba that we are going to plan to ensure this equipment is available,” he said.

Odera took over the leadership of the department when the Health docket was facing a myriad of challenges including a strike by casual workers who had downed their tools protesting delayed pay.

The DG said that he had been briefed by the in charge of the facility on acute staff shortage, especially doctors and equipment, giving an assurance that the Dr Paul Otuoma’s administration would endeavor to address those inherent challenges.

On recent strikes by casual staff of Kocholia, Alupe, and Khunyangu sub-county hospitals, Odera blamed it on a witch-hunt by some perpetrators who wanted to taint the image of the county government.

"We had renewed their contracts by one month, but they opted to down their tools because of such a witch-hunt. We are in constant talks with unions to ensure an amicable solution to issues," he said.

Courtesy; KNA