The Deputy Speaker of Uganda’s 11th Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has asked Dr. Ruth Aceng, the Country’s Minister of Health to bring a statement explaining why some medical interns have been asked to sit home for another year, pending their deployment to various health facilities for their training.
This according to Tayebwa is disheartening since this is the same group whose studies were disrupted by closure of schools at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have received several complaints from medical intern students, most of them have bombarded my social media accounts, and we know most of them are in the public, some of you pay for us, or you have people from your area, so they have very many issues concerning their delayed deployment. It is a thorn for us, and it has been happening year after year and then we say, we have very many professional bodies, how come? Is it only medical interns who usually have such issues? What is the problem? Is it the issue of funding, is it the issue of facilities?” asked Tayebwa.
The Deputy Speaker added, “This is an issue we need to tackle and work together as a Government to have it sorted because if you are telling these interns that you are giving them another year at home, I have done my part, I have finished studying but you are saying I can’t practice until I do internship, but then, you aren’t taking me for internship, so what do I do?”.
“And most of them lost a lot of time during the Covid-19 pandemic. I know many colleagues had raised this issue, but I think the right way is that the Minister of Health on Tuesday brings a statement about this issue. I forwarded to her some of the issues which they raised in their petition so that we come here; give it enough time to ensure it is sorted for once and for all. Like all other professions, the doctors also need to move” he added.
The Parliament also paid tribute to the outgoing Country Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, for his dedication and commitment to serving the country.
Dr. Woldemariam, who holds a Doctorate degree in Medicine, has served in Uganda for six and a half years, leading the country’s positive response to various pandemics, including Covid-19, Ebola, Cholera, and measles vaccination campaigns.
legislators including the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee also Hoima west division Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, and former Minister of Health also Tororo district woman MP Sarah Opendi, praised Dr. Woldemariam for his tireless efforts in supporting and improving the health system that competes the world class in the Ministry of Health.
Before his deployment to Uganda in 2018, Dr. Woldemariam served as a Planning Officer at the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia in New Delhi, India, from 2016-2018.
Dr. Woldemariam is set to retire in his home country of Ethiopia after completing his term in Uganda.
