Oruka HCIII brings healthcare closer to over 14,000 Nwoya households
“We are grateful that in case of delivery, we do it from here at Oruka HCIII unless it is a critical condition. That is when the patient is referred to Anaka General Hospital,” Akwero says.
Oruka Health Centre III, the newly constructed health facility in Pawat Omeru Village, Purongo Subcounty, Nwoya District, serves more than 14,000 residents. (Photo by Rosemary Anena)
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For years, residents of Pawat Omeru village in Purongo subcounty town council, Nwoya district, had to travel more than seven kilometres to access healthcare services.
Residents had to either find money for transport or trek more than seven kilometres to reach Aparanga Health Centre II, Purongo Health Centre III or Anaka General Hospital.
William Okot, a resident of Pawat Omeru village, told New Vision that transport to Purongo Health Centre III could cost him between sh6,000 and sh7,000, while travelling to Anaka could cost up to sh10,000.
“Before the health facility was there, we were having a lot of challenges, especially in addressing some of the critical illnesses which always disturbed the community,” Okot says.
For families with limited incomes, such costs could mean delaying treatment or struggling to meet other basic needs. Today, the situation has changed.
The establishment of Oruka Health Centre III, on five acres of land, has brought healthcare services closer to more than 14,000 households in Purongo subcounty, reducing the distance and transport costs that once stood as barriers to medical care.
“Because the health facility is now within our locality, we don't even use boda boda,” Okot says.
Residents can now walk to the facility for treatment of minor illnesses, while patients with serious conditions are referred to Anaka General Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital Lacor or Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
A lifeline for mothers
For women, the change has been particularly significant.
“Especially the pregnant women who used to travel to Anaka General Hospital to deliver. It was a far distance from us,” she says.
Some women trekked to health facilities, while others faced congestion at facilities serving large numbers of patients.
Today, expectant mothers can access antenatal care and maternity services at Oruka Health Centre III.
“We are grateful that in case of delivery, we do it from here at Oruka HCIII unless it is a critical condition. That is when the patient is referred to Anaka General Hospital,” Akwero says.
According to facility records, more than 26,400 patients have visited the outpatient department since the health facility started functioning in July 2023. About 6,300 expectant mothers have attended antenatal care, while 284 deliveries have been recorded.
Closing the gap
Irene Naikaali, the country director of The Hunger Project Uganda, the organisation that helped bridge the healthcare gap in the community, said the establishment of Oruka HCIII followed consultations with district leaders and the community, which identified access to healthcare as a major challenge.
The Hunger Project began working with Nwoya district in 2019. At the time, Purongo Health Centre III, about 15 kilometres away, was the main facility serving the area.
“We needed to reduce that distance. That's why we constructed the Oruka HCIII to bridge that gap,” Naikaali says.
Construction started in 2019 and was completed around 2021 before the facility was handed over to the district. It became fully functional in 2023 following the required Government approvals and processes.
The construction cost about sh700 million, according to Naikaali.
Diseases remain a concern
Despite improved access to healthcare, residents continue to face a significant disease burden.
Malaria, cough and diarrhoea are among the common conditions treated at the facility.
Sickle cell disease is also reported regularly, with the health facility recording at least two cases a week, according to its report.
The proximity of the health centre means residents can seek medical attention closer to home, while health workers can identify patients requiring specialised treatment and refer them to higher-level facilities.
Keeping the doors open
As Oruka Health Centre III moves into a self-reliance phase, responsibility for sustaining the facility is increasingly being shared by the Government and the community.
Naikaali said The Hunger Project's role is to support communities rather than permanently provide services on their behalf.
“We don't come to do development for communities. We come to support them or accompany them on a journey,” she says.
Nwoya District chairperson Patrick Oryema said residents, local leaders and district authorities are committed to working with health workers to ensure the facility remains functional.
The health centre has not removed every health challenge facing the community, but it has taken away one of the biggest barriers to care: distance.