Mukono: Over 12000 Patients Risk Death Due To Drug Shortage,Kojja Health Center IV Blames ‘Lazy’ NMS

Last week, the Office of the National Chairperson NRM-Coordinators for Greater Mukono headed by Kigongo Faisal conducted random monitoring of government services at Kojja Health Center IV, in Mukono district. This is where they learnt that the facility has been in a shortage of drugs, for four months now since the last supply from National Medical Stores (NMS)

Kojja Health Center IV serves a minimum of 100 patients per day making a total of 12000 patients for four months who have not been able to get treatment from the facility with several deaths registered. This health centre serves five sub-counties; Ntenjeru – Kisoga Town council, Nakisunga, Mpata, Mpunge, and Katosi Trading Centre.

Dr Simon Peter Kayondo in charge of the facility in absentia at the time spoke on phone with the team and said, “NMS says it has no transportation means to deliver the drugs due to budget cuts, and now what we do at the centre is to make immediate referrals for patients who cannot buy drugs for themselves”.

“We have lost many people in the last few months to different diseases due to lack of drugs. Many of our people are poor and can’t afford to buy drugs in private clinics,” said a patient at the health centre who preferred to remain unknown.

Sadly, attempts to get a comment from NMS Spokesperson, Sheila Nduhukire on this matter were futile as her known phone number was unreachable.

All aside, time back, HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni gave directives to his Special Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hajjat Namyalo Hadijah Uzeiye (Head ONC) to find out why NMS is always burning drugs due to expiry yet there is a public outcry about the lack of drugs in government facilities, soon, ‘who to blame’ will be revealed.

Meanwhile, Mr Kigongo Faisa, the ONC coordinator in greater Mukono, assured the patients and medical staff that, the matter is to urgently be brought to the attention of the President through the ONC Head and drugs will soon be delivered to the centre.

Kigongo apologized to the patients and assured them that the President is committed to ensuring the safety of their lives and is to fulfill all his promises expressed in the manifesto of 2021-2026.