By Frederick Anyine
The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring in the office of President Beatrice Akello has requested the government to look at developing a sustainable policy of involving local leaders and the community in the implementation of government projects.
Akello said this while monitoring government projects in Mbarara district where she visited Mabira Dam, Mabira health center two, and Bwizibwera health center IV among others.
During her tour, she was surprised that Mabira and Bwizibwera health facilities had not received drugs since December 2022 only to receive them in May 2022 which forced her to direct the state house Anti-corruption unit to investigate the issue of drug stockouts in different facilities in the country.
Akello said the ministry is going to sit with the stakeholders to find out why there is delayed delivery of drugs and why National Drug Authority uses a push system to deliver a lot of drugs that are not needed.
Dr. Richard Atuhairwe the in-charge of Bwizibwera Health Centre IV, said the facility received some drugs at the start of this month after waiting for six months, however, said the facility still lacks essential drugs such as antimalarial drugs.
Atuhairwe added that the facility receives more than 50 patients daily with most of them suffering from malaria.
However, the scarcity of drugs remains a problem, prompting some patients to be referred to pharmacies.
