By Sabir Musa

Refugees settled in Siripi Zone of Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement have raised concerns over challenges they face while accessing health services at Siripi Health Centre 3.

They express disappointment over lack of essential drugs at the facility, delay and poor attendance to patients and cases of segregation by health workers.
A refugee in the settlement, Dini Kavira, while sharing one of her experiences at the facility reveals that she lost a baby at birth due to negligence by health workers. “Even if you are in labour pain, they (health workers) cannot even bother and make statements that you are disturbing them every time. When I was pregnant, they left be to suffer alone, I was later operated but the baby dies because it took long time” she recalls. Dini revealed this during a community dialogue organized by Radio Pacis in Siripi Zone, Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement.

Anangu Mari, another refugee in the settlement said, the facility most time has no essential drugs and this force them to buy from outlets. “They just give you a paper with names of medicines that should be bought from outside” she said.

Terego District Health Officer, Simon Amandi, says, these concerns raised by refugees are important to ensure service at the facility improves. “In our line of duty as health workers, we are supposed to serve without any barrier regardless of whether you are a child, adult, national, and refugee etc. If it happened then am very sorry, such kind of health worker could be brought to question to see the ethics and professional codes” DHO responds.

According to the District Health office, Siripi Health Centre 3 receives supply of drugs and other medical supplies from National Medical Store and partners, but these many times get out of stock due to large catchment areas and high population. The office also pledge to follow-up on other concerns raised regarding operations of the facility.

COVER PHOTO: Both refugee and host community members attending the dialogue at Siripi Zone Photo by Radio Pacis