A Free and Fair Election (FAFEN) report shows that elected officials made only 83 visits to monitor dispensaries from June to August 2012, while ignoring 50 percent of the facilities altogether.
The report released on Friday said that low oversight often resulted in the staff of the dispensaries taking little interest in their duties. Therefore, the data showed the importance of informed and regular oversight which ensured the efficient working of institutions.
The FAFEN monitors visited 167 dispensaries in 99 districts to collect relevant data and assess the overall situation.
The monitors found out that medical staff (doctors) had not been posted at 28 percent of the dispensaries. However, among paramedical staff, the male occupancy rate was 90 percent, while the female staff stood at 80 percent.
Similarly, watchmen and sanitary workers’ occupancy stood at 91 percent and 83 percent respectively.
Assessment of general facilities showed that 29 percent dispensaries had no boundary walls, while 40 percent were operating out of dilapidated buildings. Similarly, 46 percent lacked the proper arrangements for clean drinking water for patients, 50 percent had no lavatories with running water, 27 percent lacked proper waiting areas for visitors, 56 percent were without sterilizers, and another 36 percent lacked syringe cutters.
FAFEN observers interviewed three out-patients at each dispensary for their views on the staff’s performance. Although most of those interviewed seemed satisfied, 35 percent patients expressed dissatisfaction, complaining the doctors did not give enough time to the patients.
