Oyam health workers pledge zero tolerance to corruption and negligence

31 July 2026, 12:31 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Health leaders and workers in Oyam District have resolved to uphold integrity and accountability in service delivery, pledging zero tolerance to corruption and negligence.

The commitment was made yesterday during the Health Sector Sub-Program Annual Performance Review Meeting for the Financial Year 2025/2026, held at Jareem Hotel in Oyam Town Council. The meeting brought together district leaders, health officials, and stakeholders to evaluate progress in service delivery.

Addressing participants, LC5 Chairperson Hon. Nelson Adea Akar, commonly known as Mogo-Amoga, emphasized the need to strengthen health service delivery across all units. He urged health workers to honor their promise of rejecting corruption, avoiding negligence of duty, and improving time management by reducing absenteeism. Adea stressed that drugs must be given to local people without diversion, warning that failure to do so amounts to corruption. He assured the public that district leadership will closely monitor these commitments to ensure better services for residents.

Chief Administrative Officer Felix Alex Majembe commended the health sector for organizing the review. He cautioned health workers against negligence, particularly late reporting to duty and absenteeism, noting that some civil servants wrongly treat Mondays and Fridays as unofficial holidays. Majembe pledged to work closely with the health department to enforce discipline and integrity, declaring that 2026 must be a year free from corruption practices.

District Health Officer Dr. Mailing Thomas, in his remarks, called upon in-charges of different health facilities in Oyam to improve maintenance and address challenges affecting the sector. He highlighted maternal deaths, low outpatient utilization, high malaria positivity and mortality, and gaps in immunization as urgent issues requiring attention.

Health workers at the meeting also raised concerns about maternity services, noting that retired midwives continue working without motivation, which undermines morale. They called for better support to ensure quality service delivery. Other challenges raised included inadequate staffing at Health Center IIIs and poor road access to some facilities.

In his closing remarks, the Resident District Commissioner appreciated the efforts of health workers to improve operations at health centers. He acknowledged challenges such as water shortages and poor road access, urging that these issues be prioritized for resolution.

The meeting underscored the district’s collective resolve to strengthen healthcare delivery, enforce discipline, and eliminate corruption and negligence in service provision.