January 25 2010 – Bank of Uganda Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, has criticised the deepening staff shortages in health facilities and poor remuneration of medics, saying they overshadow the strides so far made in the health sector.
Presiding over the seventh graduation ceremony of Aga Khan University of Nursing on Saturday in Kampala, Prof. Mutebile asked the graduates to brave the challenges facing the health sector which he said was key in accelerating development in the country.
“You will face many challenges in your careers since the health problems of this country are immense and the conditions under which nurses must work are often very difficult,’’ he said, adding: “But I am confident that the training that you have received at the Aga Khan University has equipped you with the skills to overcome these challenges.”
Ministry of Health records indicate that there is a staggering shortfall of 2,290 nurses out of the required 5,568 in government hospitals alone.
Due to poor pay, some nurses abscond from duty because they are frustrated and this has prompted many to leave the country in search for greener pastures outside the country.
Ismailimail 