Hoima | Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, has warned public health facility workers about notable tendencies to show up for duties without wearing uniforms.
The uniforms, PS Dr Atwine says, are for visibility, further warning against the new Ministry of Health guidelines.
Dr Atwine was speaking during the Bunyoro/Hoima Regional Integrated Care System Platform meeting at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital recently.
There, she said, “wearing uniforms is now mandatory for all government health workers”, warning that failure to comply could attract disciplinary action, including dismissal from the public health service.
She explained that uniforms are important since they help patients easily identify genuine health workers within respective facilities.
“We have moved within facilities and realised that most health officers show up without uniforms and yet these uniforms help you look visible in the eyes of patients who seek our services,” she noted.
According to her, wearing uniforms by the officials on duty helps in improving professionalism, making it easy for patients to identify health officers, but also helps in fighting against unethical practices like soliciting bribes from patients before offering services.
“Uniforms help us fight a couple of unethical behaviours, including corruption within the facilities, since uniforms contain the names of the health officer,” she explained.
It is out of this background that PS Atwine warned that the ministry will not allow officials to report on duty in non-uniforms.
“We shall not allow people with any wheelbarrow-like pushers, vendors’ looks to work at our facilities,” Atwine warned.
Dr Atwine, in her further remarks, noted that many Ugandans continue to rely on government health facilities for health services due to the trust they have in government facilities.
“The public has more trust in quality and affordable services provided by the public health facilities. This growing confidence has increased the number of patients seeking care in public facilities,” she added, calling on health workers to uphold high standards of professionalism and compassion.
The Ministry of Health has continuously prioritised health promotion, disease prevention, and improved quality of care across all health facilities, with strict adherence to professional standards.
Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Chairperson of the Health Service Commission, and Prof Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, expressed concern over the poor health service indicators that have persisted in the Bunyoro sub-region over the years.
They urged health workers to work together to improve service delivery and save lives.
Dr Bwaga Ibrahim, the Senior Executive Consultant of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, welcomed the Ministry’s supervision, saying it had provided valuable insights into the hospital’s strengths and areas requiring improvement.
He pledged continued efforts to improve healthcare services in the region.
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