KABERAMAIDO

Bennah Amiri is one of the many mothers in Oriamo sub-county, Kaberamaido district, who have welcomed the new private-not-for-profit medical centre in the area.

Amiri, like many other struggling mothers in the district, will now have access to better health services following the launch of the Ida Harris Medical Centre recently.

“We now have where pregnant women will go for antenatal care. We have where children with serious complications will be attended to and this is within our reach,’’ Amiri said.

She said the centre is a lifeline since many mothers have been trekking long distances to seek antenatal care. Mary Atayo, another mother, expressed her happiness saying the centre will ease on the burden of immunisation of their children.

Raymond Atidi, a resident of Oriamo sub-county, said the facility will not only offer medical services, but also create employment opportunities for the locals.

‘‘Some people will get jobs as cleaners or health workers. So, the facility will be of great help,’’ he said.

Susan Acio, the assistant district health officer in charge of child and maternal health, said the facility will be serving about 20,000 people.

Money was lobbied

Alfred Elalu Edakasi, the Kaberamaido district legislator, said he lobbied for funds to oversee the construction of the health facility following a public outcry.

‘‘Being a new sub-county, the Government has not yet constructed a health facility for the local people, but everyone could see that there was a need for something like this,’’ he said.

Whereas the facility is private, Edakasi promised that he was going to devise means to see that the locals benefit from it through partnership with the Government.

He said he had a plan of lobbing to have the facility advanced to the level of a health centre IV.

‘‘Of the sub-counties in Kaberamaido district, it is only Oriamo that does not have a government-aided health facility. Other sub-counties including Ochero and Okile have only health centre IIs, so we need an immediate upgrade of these facilities,’’ Edakasi said.

He added that the new medical centre can admit six expectant mothers at a time for delivery.

John Mawogole, the officer in charge of Ida Harris Medical centre, said they are now saved from renting and operating from unconducive environments.

He said they were operating from trading infrastructures that were built for different purposes.

Views

Patrick Epilu, the LC3 chairperson of Oriamo sub-county, said the private facility will serve them as they continue to lobby for one from the Government.

“It is good to welcome the facility serving us right now as we wait for government intervention, but we do not know when,’’ he said.

Victor Rex Ekesu, the Kaberamaido chairperson, said they are looking for ways of partnering with Ida Harris Medical Centre to see that all community members are catered for.