Dr. Jane Aceng, Uganda’s Health Minister, has stopped the distribution of special health devices in Lira City and the surrounding district.
These 3,707 devices, such as white canes, wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, and underarms, were donated by ReLAB-HS. They were meant to help people with disabilities at various health facilities.
In Uganda, many people need these devices, but only a few have them. The demand is 35.5%, but only 14.5% of people have them. This means about 12 million people need these devices to live better lives.
On Saturday, the Minister stopped the free distribution because she worried that the devices might not go to the right people. She wants them to be stored in the City Health store with only one person having the keys.
The district and city health officials have three weeks to make sure the devices go to the right people.
RCM Okello Orik, the LCV Chairperson Lira, said that if the devices are given to the right people, it will help them because these devices are expensive.
Gerald Okello, the Technical Advisor for Re-LAB HS, explained that with these devices, people can do their daily activities and work better.
Daniel Kyabayinze, the Director of Health Services in charge of Public Health, said they are trying to make it easier for people to get these devices.
The Re-LAB HS project started two years ago with the distribution of wheelchairs.
