Bukedea residents challenged to avoid self medication
“It is alarming that in just one day of screening, we have discovered that many people in the community are suffering from ulcers and UTIs,” he said.
Bukedea: Residents of Nyadila Parish in Kidongole Sub County, Bukedea District, have been urged to desist from self-medication and instead seek proper medical attention from qualified health professionals.
The call was made on Saturday, March 21, 2026, by Bukedea County Member of Parliament-elect, David Beecham Okwere, who represented the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, during the launch of Jehova Rapha Medical Centre, a privately owned health facility.
According to Okwere, many people in the community lack access to proper healthcare, which has contributed to preventable deaths.
“In Bukedea, we lose about 8 to 10 people daily on average. From my own analysis, many people face challenges accessing proper treatment. A person experiences severe pain and resorts to taking painkillers without undergoing proper medical tests,” he said.
Okwere emphasized the importance of diagnosis in guiding appropriate treatment, noting that proper medical examination helps health workers prescribe the right medication.
He welcomed the establishment of Jehova Rapha Medical Centre, saying it will complement existing government health facilities in the sub-county.
“My appeal to the proprietor is to remain considerate to the community so that people can fully benefit from this facility,” he added.
The facility in-charge, Dr. Emmanuel Onyait, revealed that preliminary screening conducted on the first day showed that ulcers and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common illnesses affecting residents.
“It is alarming that in just one day of screening, we have discovered that many people in the community are suffering from ulcers and UTIs,” he said.
The Kidongole Sub County Chairperson, Martin Ocom, noted that access to healthcare remains a major challenge in the area.
“Residents travel between 30 to 40 kilometers in search of medical services. The sub-county has only one health facility, which is still being upgraded to a Health Centre III, yet it serves a population of over 10,000 people,” he explained.
However, a resident, Josephine Akello, pointed out that government health facilities often face drug shortages, forcing many people to seek alternatives.
In response, Okwere pledged to raise the issue of inadequate drug supply in government facilities with the Speaker of Parliament.
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