'Extortion leading mothers to their deaths in Busia'

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Busia-based doctors have been accused of causing high maternal deaths in the district.

“All these medical officials will never go to the theatre without extorting money from the mothers,” Assistant Busia district health officer in charge of maternal health, Bena Nanyama, said. 

According to her, extortion at the district hospital in Masafu is the highest level and it has a chain, which is maintaining Busia at the top of maternal deaths in eastern region. She says embracing referrals would manage maternal death, which are 'manufactured by doctor'.

The visibly angry looking Nanyama has recommended that some Masafu Hospital doctors to go to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for attachment.

Bena Nanyama, ADHO in charge of maternal health in Busia district. (Credit: Egessa Hajusu)

She was on February 26, 2025, addressing health facilities in-charges during a meeting called by the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) in Chango Machyo Hall at Busia district headquarters.

RDC Hajira Namagogwe called the meeting following complaints of extortion, absenteeism, drug theft, late coming and harassment of patients during last week’s security committee meeting.

Deputy RDC Grace Kanuna said he was a victim of harassment at Masafu Hospital where he went to seek treatment and was told that he had gone late at 6:00pm.

Kanuna also disclosed, he intervened in two separate cases in which a medic at Busia Health Centre IV sent away a patient after failing to spay sh20,000. He also cites incidents of absenteeism in Busiime and Bumunji health centres three and two, respectively.

Namagogwe noted that any attempts to frustrate service delivery in the district would not be tolerated adding that the practise is tantamount to failing President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign manifesto.

District vice chairperson, Christine Nasisamba, lashed out at health workers for referring patients who have failed to pay. She said other supplies sent to the health facilities are not given to patients safe for malaria drugs before blaming the health workers for leaving health facilities in the hands of medical interns.

District medical superintendent, Dr Fred Duku, appealed to patients to open up on the issue of extortion reporting those involved to the management. He said he was going to intensify internal supervision to fight extortion and harassment.

Masafu, he said, has one anaesthetic officer yet they are supposed to be seven which he said is affecting the service delivery.

"Stolen drugs are smuggled to Kenya and rebranded. We are yet to bust the racket. Lack of team work and negligence of duty is causing patients to call cleaners musawo [doctors] due to absence of medics," he said.

Chief administrative office, David Lubuuka, said most of the raised concerns including theft of drugs and selling them in Kenya, harassment and extortion were going to be investigated.

The health workers apologised for the mess and asked to start afresh.