An upcoming local NGO, Muumoza Youth Organization - MUYO says lack of capacity among Health Advisory Committees - HACs  to play a governance and  oversight role in health centers is a major set back hampering efforts aimed at  halting drug theft in rural areas.

 

"We decided to train health advisory committees after noting that they have inadequate capacity especially in providing leadership and governance oversight on health services as their core responsibility which includes ensuring that health facility duty bearers are accountable to the community and that drugs and other medical supplies are well managed",Said Shaba.

 

Shaba said the core duty for HACs is to monitor the performance of health centers that communities are getting  the quantity and quality health care set in  health service strategies.

 

"It is only a trained committee that is able to do what is supposed to be done in ensuring that drugs are not being stolen from health facilities," Said Shaba 

 

Among others drug theft by health workers affect the lives of the immediate communities especially those who cannot afford to buy drugs from shops or access health services at private clinics.

 

Vice Chairperson for Msese health center Thomas Chirwa said with the training they will now be able to play an oversight role by among others checking how drugs are being used and the general attitude of health workers towards their patients 

 

Chirwa said they will also play a role in bridging the gap between communities, traditional leaders and health workers as one way of promoting quality service delivery.

 

"Now we can be able to follow and question everything that happens at our health center we have been told that we can as well be taking part in signing forms which show how much drugs have been supplied a thing we we were not doing", Said Chirwa. 

 

Muumoza Youth Organization is implementing an enhancing governance and health systems accountability project in the areas of Senior Chief Mabulabo and Inkosi Khonsolo with funding from the Tilitonse fund.