{UAH} Stop shouting about cancer machine; can’t you be patient?

Stop shouting about cancer machine; can't you be patient?

Written by DR JIMMY SPIRE SSENTONGO

Created: 13 April 2016

The past two weeks have been very irritating. This noise from all corners about the spoilt radiotherapy machine at Mulago hospital, and that we should repair or buy another, has been more annoying than Besigye's claim that we had put him under house arrest.

You see, Ugandans are very ungrateful people. As revolutionaries, we have sacrificed a lot for them but all they keep aspiring for is to be like us!

First, let me put this very clearly. Yes, we know that water has been on and off at Mulago. We also know that scanning machines are dead, and that such services can only be accessed at expensive private hospitals. We are well aware that you buy most of the medicines from pharmacies at Wandegeya. Don't think we are not aware.

We monitor everything. You should know and be proud that your country has one of the most effective intelligence networks in Africa.  If you doubt this, you try to protest against the state of health services in the country and see.

You fail to appreciate that if the machines in Mulago are dead, that means they once worked. The problem is that you have not travelled. There are countries that don't even have dead machines. Our hospitals at least have them.

If you think I'm deceiving, go and check. Can't you be grateful that they once worked? The second radiotherapy machine died only five years ago. Some countries have machines that have been down for more than five years. Aren't we in a better position? Besides, did you want people to die instead of machines?

We agree that we may not have equipped our hospitals to the level we want. But all that is catered for in our 50-year plan. That is why we need more time in power to progressively fix all this. If you wish to recall, we have bought a lot of critical equipment. Our presidential jet is one of the best and most expensive in Africa.

Did you expect him to fly in a radiotherapy machine? You should be happy that, with this, our president can also stand with dignity among fellow presidents. They can't despise us anymore.

We also bought two state-of-the-art Mercedes Benz cars at Shs 6 billion each for the president. Don't you feel honoured when our loving president is cruising in them?

If not, then you should be taken to Kyankwanzi for some patriotism lessons. Many of you are condemning us for seeking treatment abroad. Imagine! These are some of the things that make me believe that we still have a lot of work to do in teaching patriotism.

You complained that our hospitals are congested, when we try to decongest them by seeking services elsewhere, you still complain! What do you really want? Imagine if our president went to Mulago for treatment, with all his security detail and praise singers; would you still have space in those corridors where you comfortably lie enjoying the peace we brought you?

When we threw our victory party shortly after news of the only radiotherapy machine's breakdown, several Ugandans were quick to say that our priorities show how 'heartless' we are.

This is a false accusation. In our regular medical checkups, our doctors in Germany and India have told us that our hearts are there and working well. This diagnosis was done in hospitals we trust; how dare you say we are 'heartless'!!! And be informed that we only spent a few billions on that party. We did not have money.

We have just spent billions of money trying to ensure your safety. You are aware of the tear gas trucks we procured recently. Comrades, that is billions of money. And these are basic necessities in Ugandan life, not wrong priorities.

You know how difficult you are to govern. You complain about everything. However clean an election is, you want to protest! How do you expect us to manage you without uninterrupted supply of tear gas and pepper? Can a radiotherapy machine tame Besigye? Be realistic!

We have also constructed and improved many roads. In the past, it used to be very difficult to transport bodies from Mulago to our villages for burial. Now, it only takes you a few hours from the Cancer Institute to Masaka. Can a radiotherapy machine transport your dead fast and comfortably?

So, my brothers and sisters, let us learn to appreciate and to be patient. The Bible also tells us that there is time for everything – time for crying and time for rejoicing. These are not my words; they are from a holy book.

Don't irritate us anymore. Allow us to work at our pace. By the way, did your Resident District Commissioner (RDC) deliver the victory cake we sent you? Cheers!

The writer works with the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi.

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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