Kabale Muslim district council bitter with government’s continued delay to recruit Kirigime Health Center III

By Byamukama Libino

Kabale district Muslim council have expressed bitterness over government’s negligence of Kirigime Health center III on the PHC (Public Health Care fund), yet the facility has been embracing all government programs.

The issue was raised last Saturday by the district Kadhi Sheikh Kaabu Luule during the induction ceremony of Kabale district Muslim council leaders held at Ndorwa Primary school in Kirigime Ward Southern division Kabale municipality.

Addressing the leaders before the chief guest, Kabale district RDC Nyakahuma Godfrey, Luule expressed concern how other hospitals (Rugarama and Rushorooza Hospitals) which are Protestant and Catholic-founded receive PHC (Public Health Care fund) unlike Kirigime health center III which was established years before them.

He added that the facility has free government programs like circumcision and has been participating in other outreaches like immunization campaigns, and  being the only mosque, it serves a large number of Muslims around and in Kigezi plus the neighboring community.

Luule said there is need for government paid midwives at the facility saying that they face a challenge of paying midwives despite being a P.P.F (private for not profit facility).

“Which crime did we commit for our hospital not to be included on the beneficiaries of Public Health Care fund,” Luule lamented

He further requested for construction of administration blocks and other classrooms at Ndorwa Primary school saying that the few they have also need renovation.

RDC Godfrey Nyakahuma pledged to sit with the Kabale district Health officer, and the municipal health officer to have a government paid midwife deployed at the health center.

He further promised to engage the authorities to have their request on renovation of school structures, and construction of administration blocks and classes pardoned.

On 5^th September 2022, the Kirigime Health center III in-charge Dr. Ssemakula Hussein also expressed concern about the challenges faced by the facility such as shortage of staff and that the few available are not on government payroll.

He added that they are only surviving on the little salary they get from Kabale district Muslim council, adding that the situation becomes worse when the little payment delays.

Dr. Ssemakula said that the health center has no public health care fund to buy medicines, and some medical equipment thus asking the government to recruit the facility on the PHC fund.

“We have equipment but we don’t have enough manpower and most of the services which could have brought in money are offered at a free cost,” Dr. Ssemakula added.

Kirigime Health Center III is a is a P.P.F (private for not profit facility) registered under Uganda Muslim Medical Bureau (UMMB), and the only Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Health Facility under the Kabale Muslim Council in the Kigezi sub-region.

The facility was licensed in 1986 and it pays a license fee of Ugx250,000 annually.