By Malik Fahad Jjingo
The Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) has recovered drugs worth over Ugx30 million, said to have been stolen from government health facilities in the central region.
NDA Communication manager – Abiaz Rwamwiri told the press in Masaka City on Friday. This follows a four-day compliance enforcement operation in the region, including Gomba district.
“In the same operation, three health workers attached to Kyazanga health center Iv in Lwengo and Kagamba health center iii in Rakai district were also arrested”. Rwamwiri added.
Some of the recovered drugs and items include anti malarias, HIV, Hepatitis and Malaria testing kits, cannulas examination gloves, maama kits and ARVs among other items.
He said that theft of government drugs affects locals that cannot access essential drugs in its facilities because they are stolen by what he termed as selfish health workers in government facilities warning health workers that are involved in this syndicated crime to desist from it before they are caught.
The arrested health officers include John Oddoi attached to Kagamba health center 3 in Rakai who was tracked to his private facility Divine Mercy drug shop where he was found with drugs and medical equipment worth over Ugx10m.
Another health worker was identified as Julius Musobole Babalanda a clinician at Kyazanga health center iv who runs St Tereza Medical center in Bukoto Kyazanga, who was arrested with malaria nets, malaria testing kits and antimalarial drugs among items.
“Jackie Nakuya, who is attached to Kiwangala Health Center IV in Lwengo, used to connive with Musobole, to steal government drugs.
Nakuya runs a private facility at Kitoro in Lwengo, and some drugs were found hidden in her boutique in Masaka,” said Alfred Ayom Akali, Senior Inspector of Drugs Enforcement in NDA.
Akali said that in the same operation, they closed over 80 drug shops that operated without licenses, and over 150 boxes of assorted medicine were impounded, and this is estimated at over Ugx92m were impounded.
“Stolen drugs not only affect their efficacy because of poor storage, but they also affect health service delivery since the poor people cannot readily find medicines at public facilities, asking members of the public to be vigilant and report people involved in theft of government medicine,” Dr Rashida Nakalema added.
Since 2019, the NDA has been conducting similar operations, during which over Ugx13 billion has been recovered, and over 36 government health workers have been arrested and charged with illegal possession of government stores, among other charges.
End
English 