Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng has been tasked to explain why Health Ministry allegedly has abandoned Dr Balikuddembe
Uganda’s Health Ministry has come under fire after it reportedly abandoned Dr. Michael Balikuddembe after contracting Hepatitis B while on duty at Kawempe hospital.
The revelation was made by Iganga Municipality MP, Paul Mugema, who claimed that after Dr. Balikuddembe contracted the deadly disease while treating one of the patients without any personal protective gears, further tests revealed he had cancer of the liver, but Government only offered him Shs1M.
“Balikuddembe, a senior gynecologist who contracted Hepatitis B while on duty when he went for further examination, he had liver cancer. The only help they gave him is Shs1m yet he uses USD720 daily for treatment. He is now stuck at his home in Seguka. He is on anti-cancer treatment which is a bit expensive. I request you compel the Ministry of health to come and explain what arrangements they have for medical team that contract ailments on the duty,” Mugema said.
The lawmaker also proposed to have each MP to have their salary deducted so as to meet the cost of Dr.Balikuddembe’s medical bill, as gesture for his service when called upon to treat deceased Iganga Woman MP, Grace Hailat Kaudha, 30, who passed on in July 2017 due to pregnancy complications.
However, some MPs like Jovah Kamateka (Mitooma Woman) protested the proposal to have their salaries deducted, saying that Parliament footing Balikuddembe’s medical bill would open floodgates for other Ugandans to flock Parliament with their challenges.
, “We don’t want to create impression that everybody who falls sick should run to parliament. We need to put government to task. Let them go look for this doctor and take action rather than say parliament pay. This is a simple matter,” Kamateka said.
In her ruling, Kadaga ordered the Minister of Health, Jane Aceng to come before Parliament and explain what Government is going to do about the doctor, saying the continued abandonment is a violation of the doctor’s health and human rights.
Since his excellency has been commending the work of scientists, let him walk the talk