By Flavia Ajok
The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has warned of stern disciplinary action against midwives and other health practitioners in the country who abscond from duty.
Nabbanja says, absenteeism among health workers in the country is becoming a big concern hence compromising sufficient health care service delivery to Ugandans.
While presiding over the International Day of the Midwife at Hoima Boma grounds in Hoima city on Monday, Nabbanja stated that despite enhancing the payments of health workers across the country, midwives, nurses and other health practitioners have continued to abscond from duty.
According to Nabbanja, health workers who abscond from duty are putting the lives of patients at risk stating that, those who are not committed to serving Ugandans should be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.
She says the absence of health workers from health facilities affects appropriate service delivery and exerts immense pressure on the few who are ready to work compelling some of them to work beyond the recommended hours.
Nabbanja states that, her office had received several complaints from the public that health midwives and other health workers across the country have developed a tendency of absenting themselves from duty without official leave, which she says cripples sufficient health service delivery to the people.
