The Electoral Commission has banned presidential candidates from appearing in public facilities such as hospitals, schools and churches during the ongoing campaigns.
This declaration has came in a day after the permanent secretary in the health ministry, Dr Asuman Lukwago, wrote to the elections body, complaining about the recent visits to health facilities by presidential candidates.
Speaking to The Observer media reporters yesterday, EC spokesman Jotham Taremwa said that they have written to all presidential candidates informing them of the directive.
“It’s clear that facilities like schools, roads, churches, and hospitals are restricted places to political candidates and we had even communicated to the candidates telling them to stay away from those venues,” he said.
Dr. Lukwago listed guidelines that political candidates should follow if they must visit health facilities. These include adhering to visiting hours, respecting the privacy of patients, and the formalities of planning the visit.
He [Dr Lukwago] said no politician should ordinarily go to visit or campaign from health facilities because their supporters could pose a danger to patients.
Dr Lukwago added that the guidelines should not be misunderstood by the presidential candidates because his main objective is to protect the privacy of patients under the health ministry’s care.
“A health facility, whether it is under a tree, is supposed to be a private place for the patient and under no circumstances should patients be exposed to the campaign mob,” he said.
“If you have your wife in the labour ward and then the campaign mob comes and looks at her because they want to know the condition of that particular hospital, it’s unacceptable.”
HEALTH MINISTRY GUIDELINES TO CANDIDATES
- Health facilities are restricted places and official visiting hours are provided for relatives or any other person wishing to see patients.
- If it is an official visit, this should be arranged through the respective authorities including the in-charge of the health facilities.
- The privacy of patients and staff integrity should be respected. All information, especially clinical information, is confidential.
- Photographing, filming and interviewing of patients and staff is only permitted for certain purposes such as approved research by a relevant authority.
- For operational matters, the in-charge of the health facility is the official spokesperson. Matters of policy and political nature should be handled by the permanent secretary, ministry of health.
male@ugchristiannews.com
