After the only reservoir that supplies over 30,000 litres of water per day developed a problem a month ago, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital is struggling to access clean water.

Winnie Aloyo, a mother who is admitted to the hospital for a week now, on Tuesday said they are facing challenges in using the urinals in the hospital and for other purposes such as cooking.

Aloyo said that they have only one borehole surrounding the hospital that takes a lot of time to wait and the water comes out in little quantities.

Gloria Atim, a patient caretaker going to fetch Water from the nearby borehole.

Gloria Atim, a patient caretaker at the women’s ward, said she has faced difficulty in getting water from the nearby borehole that keeps her waiting.

“I spend about three to four hours to get water from the borehole. The borehole is so congested that you can hardly get water fast”, said Atim.

Atim also explained that she needs up to four 20-litre jerrycans of water to enable her to manage other uses such as washing patient’s clothes and taking baths.

The Hospital administration estimates that the hospitals need at least 30,000 litres of water a day for at least 300 patients at a ratio of one patient to 30 litres of water per day, which is currently a big challenge.

Grappling with water bill

James Ojwang, the hospital’s acting principal administrator, says water shortages have been intense, but that they plan to repair the water reservoir at the hospital in a month’s time.

“The alternative water sources are the three boreholes around the hospital. The other piped water alternative of water is the one that supplies the maternity ward”, said Ojwang.

The water crisis has also left the hospital with accumulated water bills of over sh600m that it was unable to pay in the last six months.

Ojwang said that they have requested the intervention of the health ministry in paying the pending bills since the hospital pays only sh24m per month.