NEWS: Amuru grapples with doctor shortage

Amuru grapples with doctor shortage

from MONITOR ONLINE

All through the peak of insurgency in northern Uganda, Esther Achen, 54, spent two decades in Amuru District, the epicentre of armed conflict, serving as a midwife at Anaka Hospital. Ms Achen, who comes from the neighbouring Lango sub-region in Apac District, persevered and did not quit her job, risking possible abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels. Her motivation was to serve fellow displaced persons, the poor and helpless, who did not have any other specialised medical worker to attend to them, or had difficulty accessing a doctor while in the camps.Unfortunately, she suffered a severe stroke in 2001 while at the hospital attending to patients. The stroke paralysed both her limbs, leaving her physically impaired.Knowing she would not even get much help at her home in Apac, due to poor health services, Ms Achen preferred to stay at Anaka Hospital where she is well known and could access some medical help. “My mother is too old to take care of me, and my sisters have all died. I prefer here because my husband has been supportive,” she says.To keep alive, the retired midwife needs the attention and support of a specialist in physiotherapy. However, Amuru District Health Officer (DHO) is worried that doctors to attend to patients like Ms Achen are lacking in the district.Other than people who suffer strokes, the over two decades armed conflict in the region has created unprecedented levels of trauma, but like in the case of Ms Achen, these people need more doctors and physiotherapists.The officer in charge of physiotherapy department at Anaka Hospital, Mr Paul Otit, said last week during the hand over of orthopedic equipment worth Shs25 million that more patients are reporting to the hospital. “We have been receiving 20-30 patients on a monthly basis,” he said.Mr Otit observed that more women in the district were suffering physical impairment compared to men because of the heavy domestic work women are subjected to. “Heavy workload without enough rest, has made many women become victims of impairment,” he explained.Amuru DHO, Dr Patrick Odong Olwedo said:“Medical personnel remains a challenge in the hospital, we urge the Ministry of Health for support.” He said Amuru has only one psychotherapist instead of four, and one doctor instead of six.