Sheikh Ssekanjakko: Health services must reach all, regardless of background
By Ahmed Idriss
Sheikh Maulana Ssekanjakko, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Mityana District Secretary for Da’awah, has called on health workers to uphold equality, fairness, and accountability in service delivery, saying true service to humanity begins with justice and responsibility.
He was speaking during a community dialogue organised by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in partnership with The Global Fund and Mityana District Local Government at the District Health Officer’s office, Mityana General Hospital. The dialogue focused on redressing barriers and promoting equitable access to HIV, TB, and malaria services.
In his speech, Sheikh Maulana underscored that equality in service delivery means ensuring that all citizens—regardless of social, economic, or physical background—can access health and social services fairly and without discrimination. He emphasized the need for health systems to be inclusive in design, responsive to community needs, and considerate of people with disabilities.
He noted that leadership accountability remains key in enforcing equality standards and that every health worker bears a moral and professional duty to uphold fairness. Sheikh Maulana said health services must be regularly monitored and evaluated to prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve inclusivity.
The cleric also cautioned medical personnel against negligence, saying it compromises the quality of care and endangers patients’ lives. He pointed out that negligence may manifest through surgical errors, misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, or lapses in infection control and communication. “When we neglect our duties, we fail both the patients and the trust Allah has placed in us,” Sheikh Maulana said.
He urged continuous training for health workers to deepen their understanding of equality and enhance their commitment to quality service delivery. Such training, he said, strengthens both professional competence and moral responsibility in the healthcare sector.
The Equal Opportunities Commission and The Global Fund, through their joint intervention, reaffirmed their commitment to building a just and fair society. Their ongoing partnership with Mityana District focuses on removing barriers and promoting equitable access to health services across Uganda.
