Ministry of Health hits back at Oulanyah over nodding disease remarks
KAMPALA.
The Ministry of Health, has questioned the intention of Parliament in its recent rise on nodding disease syndrome.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Diana Atwine, said that Parliament simply picked up the matter after she had already notified the Ministry of Finance to avail the funds.
“I wrote this letter asking MOFPED to find funds for next year before the discussion came to Parliament,”
“How come they are referring to it for today’s discussion? How did I know that they would have this discussion,” she added.
Daily Monitor has seen a copy of Ms Atwine’s letter dated March 12 and addressed to Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to Treasury.
The letter is to the effect that funds be availed to the Operationalisation of Hope for Humanity Rehabilitation centres in Omoro and Kitgum districts.
“The Purpose of this letter is therefore to request you that in FY 2018/19, funds are provided under their respective districts to perationalise the two centres,” she stated.
Hope for Humanity Rehabilitation Centre is a non government organization that is catering for over 500 children with nodding disease syndrome in Northern Uganda.
The NGO was being managed by Dr Suzzanne Godza and due to financial constraints the two centers were closed in December 2017.
“This left the children affected by the syndrome without any support,” noted Atwine.
She also indicated that the District Local Governments of Omoro and Kitgum are in the process of acquiring these centres and operationalising them for further management of the children.
Ms Atwine highlighted Shs700 million and Shs600 million for Wanglobo village in Omoro and Tomangu village in Kitgum district respectively.
Controversies
It has been a tendency for government officials to backdate documents after learning about Parliament undertakings.
For instance, the recently concluded age limit debate, questions remained lingering as to how the Bill was gazetted on the same day Parliament granted leave for a private members Bill.
The other incident was in 2015, when Parliament witnessed a brawl between government and private members on the Children Amendment Bill, after cabinet presented a photocopied certificate of financial implication contrary to procedures.
The private members, led by Ayivu County MP Bernard Atiku had the original copy and won the day.
Daily Monitor is still investigating the coincidence on nodding disease.
The issue is not reflected as a priority in the 2018/19 Budget Framework Paper that was adopted by Parliament.
It is not clear how Ms Atwine would author a letter on the matter, just a day before it would be discussed, with the amount of money similar to what the lawmakers proposed.
But the Permanent Secretary is no stranger to controversy.
In the wake of the Congo Crimean Fever, reported in Nakaseke and neighbouring districts, Ms Atwine was the first to dismiss the reports “as sensational political talk,” meant to hoodwink the public.
Even when the matter came to Parliament, it was vehemently dismissed by the Ministry of Health, only to be confirmed, weeks after.
Mr Oulanyah said on Thursday that he would stand over the nodding disease epidemic, even where it would mean to take away his life.
The Deputy speaker also criticized the government for abandoning the sick children in affected districts, and demanded for government action.
