Maracha District leaders have been challenged to step up in the role of mobilizing grassroot communities to consume health services.

During the quarterly health performance review meeting on Friday November 14 , Maracha District Health Officer, Dr. Paul Onzubo said despite government putting in place a robust structure up to the village level, it has failed to deliver on increasing uptake of health services amidst poor indicators such as immunization coverage.

“Our immunization category is very low, we are in category 4, not more than 65 percent of our mothers deliver in health facilities, quite a number of indicators are declining.

“It means we are not working properly, where are the structures, the RDC’s office is here together with police and others, GISO and so on, ask yourself to what extent are you contributing to better health service uptake?, the political leaders, LC1 up to the district chairman, ask yourself what am I doing differently to improve health service uptake and therefore the life of the people?” he put it to the gathered leaders.  

While castigating, religious and culture leaders, business forums, CBOS and other developments partners, and learning institutions for failing to join government in health service utilization support, Dr. Onzubo tasked the parish chiefs to be the engine of mobilization for the use of health services.

“The administrative structures are broad, up to the parish level, parish chiefs and town agents, their primary roles among others includes to mobilize communities for service delivery including health services, the Chief Administrative Officer can find out to the extent that they are doing that,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Peter Erisu Emwos challenged the sub-county and health unit in-charge to step up in the management of their entities in order address irregularities related to poor supervision.     

“There is no monopoly of being a (sub-county) chief, there is no monopoly of being an in-charge, you can be dropped any time,” he said.

Maracha District Chairperson Hon. Stephen Obitre tasked the leadership of the health department and the health unit in-charges to adequately prepare for the forthcoming local government national assessment by working on the areas previously identified, “we now know where the gaps are from DHT (District Health Team) to down (health units)”.

Maracha Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Ms.  Monica Kotevu told the health workers to take the feedback given to them during the meeting in good faith and work on the weak areas pointed out.

“We have not said you are not non-performers, we have said you have failed to achieve the target that can make us be identified as people who are knowledgeable and people with a lot of competence. That competence should be related with the results,” she said.

Kotevu emphasized the need to have a quarterly district performance meeting for the different sectors to present their deliverables which each also keeps the leaders in the know on the performance of indicators.