Rahman Kyambadde was being taken to Nsambya Police Clinic by his mother Maimuna Nakiranda. His temperature rose in the night and Nakiranda wanted to know what went wrong with her firstborn. She told NTV that she used to take her children to Naguru KCCA Hospital but since the doctors’ strike, services there had stalled. “When I took my child to Naguru Hospital, there was no doctor to treat him.” Said, Maimuna Nakiranda – Patient Caretaker. Nakiranda didn’t regret taking her children here. “Doctors here have been treating my children well.”
Nakiranda was not alone, Sofia Asasira said she missed immunizing her daughter twice due to the doctors’ strike. “When I took my child for immunization, I sat until 2pm and gave up.” Said, Sofia Asasira – Mother. Nakiranda and Asasira were among the many who flocked Police Clinics across the country to seek free medical services due to the doctors’ demonstration. We found doctors at Nsambya Police Clinic working tooth and nail to reduce the queues as Police Ambulances remained on standby to rush emergencies to other hospitals. “Check and we notice that this one actually needs a bigger facility then we tell them to go to a bigger facility.”
Dr. Moses Byaruhanga the Police Director of Health Services said the number of patients had drastically increased. “The numbers are increasing, we have told them that they must persevere and also scale up their efforts to come a little bit early at work by 7:30 people should be on duty.” The Police had only 16 medical doctors countrywide and they would have to more than double their efforts amid the countrywide strike. Although the picture in the Police drug stores seemed impressive, some patients had a different story to tell. “You might come and find when drugs are finished so you have to buy yet they are very expensive.” “We track those drugs from National Medical Stores until when they are given out to the patient.” Said the Director Health Services of Police.
The patients also claimed that some illnesses couldn’t be diagnosed in such Clinics
