The Rubanda District LC5 Vice Chairperson, Prossy Kesafari, has directed the in-charge of Kaara Health Centre II, Richard Magarura, to account for Primary Health Care (PHC) funds received by the facility.
Kesafari said the accountability should be submitted to the office of the district chairperson for scrutiny and verification of value for money.
She issued the directive on Sunday during the launch of a project to provide expectant mothers with incentives, including basins, to encourage them to deliver at health facilities.
The project, dubbed the Ninsiima Basin, was launched at Kaara Health Centre II in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda West Constituency. It is spearheaded by the Rubanda District Woman MP, Evelyne Ninsiima Kikafunda, and targets Health Centre II and III facilities across the district.
The initiative seeks to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes by encouraging expectant mothers to seek skilled delivery services.
Kesafari said she was concerned by the poor state of some facilities despite receiving PHC funds.
She cited damaged window glasses, failure to regularly paint the facility and destroyed water-collecting gutters, saying such repairs could be addressed using PHC funds instead of waiting for district leaders to intervene.
The facility reportedly receives Shs2.3 million in PHC funds.
Kesafari said facility managers must ensure value for money and asked them to work with the area district councillor, Vincent Kibuye, to identify priority needs for consideration during the sub-county budget conference.
She said the priorities would then be forwarded to the district budget conference for consideration and allocation of funds.
CUE IN KESAFARI….ON THE DIRECTIVE….RR//
Speaking at Ikumba Health Centre III, the Rubanda District LC5 chairman, Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba, acknowledged that health centres receive PHC funds but questioned how the money is being utilised.
Kasyaba said the district would conduct an audit of PHC funds across all health centres in the district.
He urged health workers to use the funds for their intended purposes, warning that those found mismanaging the money would be held accountable.
CUE IN KASYABA….ON THE MATTER….RR//
Meanwhile, speaking at Kaara Health Centre II, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi Ariganyira asked area councillors and district leaders to prioritize the facility in the district budget.
Musasizi said this would enable the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to allocate adequate funds in the next financial year to facilitate the renovation and improvement of the facility.
CUE IN MINISTER MUSASIZI…ON THE MATTER…RR//
