By Richard Onapatum
Nakapiripirit, Uganda-Mr. Mande Joshua a dental officer attached to Tokora HCIV has been arrested by police in Nakapiripirit on the directives by the Resident District Commissioner George Owanyi.
This follows written complaints by a one Wafula Paulo of Achororo cell in Nakapiripirit that Mande Joshua had asked him to send him ugx 120,000 mobile money as a pre condition for him to perform a dental procedure on his broken jaw following a fatal boda boda accident.
Mr. Mande without a dental surgeons’ practicing certificate nor authority from the health centre IV in charge went on to carry out the procedure.
According to Dr. Anguzu John the District Health Officer ( DHO) Nakapiripirit the district does not have a dental surgeon nor a dental chair and other equipment required to carry out such complicated procedures and such patients are normally refered to either Moroto or Mbale Regional Referral Hospitals.
Following his detention at Nakapiripirit CPS under police CRB/005/25, Mr Mande pleaded guilty and requested for forgiveness and mercy saying he had realized his mistake and would never do it again.
A team comprising RDC, CAO & DHO hastily organized for a staff meeting at Tokora HCIV where a handcuffed Mande was presented to the staff meeting, where he apologized for embarrassing n tarnishing the image of the health facility.
Mande was then made to refund the ugx 120,000 to the Health Centre In charge in the presence of DCID ASP Ngwije James.
The said money is to be handed back to the patient after closing of the police file.
The RDC,CAO & DHO appealed to the health workers to observe for work ethics, professionalism, empathy and moral values in the provision of health care