Residents upset over ghost health centre

Aug 08, 2014

It was meant to serve a population of over 3,000 people but eight years since its construction, Kumuyo Health Centre II in Arua district is yet to treat its first patient

By Richard Drasimaku

ARUA - It was meant to serve a population of over 3,000 people but eight years since its construction, Kumuyo Health Centre II in Arua district is yet to treat its first patient.


The health centre, which is situated on the Mount Wati ranges in Erea parish was the initiative of Aii-vu sub county.

According to a resident, Mansur Abirima, they were excited when the proposal for a health centre was mooted and residents even offered free land. They also collected materials such as stones and sand at no cost. The sub-county, using funds from the local government development programme in the 2005/2006 financial year, got a contractor from Arua town to set up the three-room facility.

However, to date, the facility has not been put to use. Now surrounded by a bushy compound, the building has cracked walls from the floor to the roof. The window and door panes are also broken.

A 19-year-old mother of a seven month- old baby, Rahima Amviko, whose home is just 50 metres from the health centre, said she had to go to Cilio Health Centre about 5km away at night in order to deliver her child.

“Kumuyo is a health centre in name alone. There are no drugs or health workers. You have to go to Cilio or Wadra in Maracha district for treatment,” she said.

Modesto Masimu, 75, one of those who offered land for the health facility, said the only thing that has benefited the community is the pit latrine which they are using.

He said there have been rumours that the National Medical Stores (NMS) has been sending medicines for Kumuyo but the drugs do not reach the health centre.

According to Tom Draduma, who was the community project management committee chairman for the health centre construction, the health unit was once declared a ghost project since it had remained non-functional.

He said the district is planning to revamp the health centre by constituting and training a management committee. Two nurses were posted there last month but one reportedly took off for greener pastures, while the other is on maternity leave.

Draduma, however, said the nurse has promised to cut short her leave as soon as possible to kick-start the health services to help the community.

A budget of sh514,000 per quarter has been provided for the facility’s management and NMS has reportedly resumed supplying drugs, which the Arua district health officer, Dr. Patrick Anguzu, said are being kept at Omugo Health Centre IV.

Anguzu said the health centre project was done by the sub-county without the knowledge of district leaders, which is why its take-off delayed.

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