US builds multi-billion health facility in Amuria

Dec 21, 2017

The theater commissioned was constructed at a cost of sh864m.

The State Minister for Teso Affairs, Agnes Akiror Egunyu has commissioned a fully refurbished modern theatre at Kapelebyong Health Centre-IV in the eastern district of Amuria.


The theater commissioned was constructed at a cost of sh864m. In addition, the facility now has fully functional water and solar systems.


With the population of Amuria district being 355,000 persons, the minister said, the theater has capacity to serve about 2,700 pregnant women who may require a caesarean section.

 inister kiror immunizing a newly borne baby at the refurbished maternity ward at apelebyong   in muria on wednesday     Minister Akiror immunizing a newly borne baby at the refurbished maternity ward at Kapelebyong HC IV in Amuria on wednesday. PHOTO BY EMMANUEL ALOMU

 


Baylor- Uganda also refurbished the laboratory and maternity. Altogether the investment in this facility alone is worth sh1.5b.


The installed solar system and refurbished, theatre , laboratory and maternity in the health Unit was done by Baylor-Uganda with support from the American People through the US Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC), and The U.S President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.


The ART Clinic renovated by Uganda Cares at a cost of sh47m was also commissioned by the minister who inspected the general facility before the function started and she also immunized a newly borne child.


The government of Uganda saluted the generosity of the American people through Centre for Disease Control for providing funds that were used to refurbish the facility something which will improve health service provision to the people of Amuria district.


According to the minister, the commissioning of the facility is a clear testimony of her ministry's commitment to achieving of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 which is "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages."

  inister kiror unveils the plague of the new theatre    Minister Akiror unveils the plague of the new theatre. PHOTO BY EMMANUEL ALOMU

 


She said government has made great strides in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers associated with child and maternal mortality.
"The refurbishment of the maternity , laboratory and theater are all expected to contribute to the reduction of maternal -mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 live births, as per the United Nations Targets of 2030," Akiror said .


The goal also aims at achieving universal health coverage to include access to essential medicines and vaccines.


The minister said the facility should further contribute to end preventable death of newborns and children under 5 and also end epidemics such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and water borne diseases.


"With improved health strengthening systems, we believe health service delivery will tremendously improve in the region," she said.


Akiror urged the people to take care of the infrastructure and ensure that it is maintained and made pleasantly good for those using it.


She was excited that the theater will also provide the right environment for the free and safe voluntary medical male circumcision so as to ensure that Amuria district continues to reduce new HIV infections.


The minister said that, the coming of these two facilities will now bail patients from traveling to distant districts like Soroti in search of theater and laboratory services.
Addy Kekihinwa the Executive Director Baylor Uganda disclosed that they have so far used 2.2M Dollars (sh7.9b) in the Teso sub region for refurbishing maternities, laboratory, ART clinics and installation of solar systems.


Kekihinwa was excited that their intervention in Eastern region for the last six years, has contributed to the reduction of HIV in Eastern Uganda from 5.7 per cent to now 3.7 per cent.


She revealed that her conviction to support Kapelebyong Health Centre-IV followed the difficulty in delivery for expectant women. This was because the health unit had a cracking and not fully functional theater.


"Am excited to celebrate the public private partnership,"she said. The in-charge Kapelebyong HC IV, Dr Joseph Etonu said, following the construction of these facilities to Kapelebyong HC IV, patients can now easily access all the theater and laboratory services freely.


The Acting District Health Officer Amuria, Margaret Walakira said to totally better the service delivery in the facility, there is need for government to address the challenges of;   lack of children's ward, incinerator, staff uniform, inadequate staff accommodation which is causing absenteeism, lack of mobile phone network and there is need to extend water to all Wards.


Dr. Charles Olaro the director clinical services in the health ministry said this is one of the best theaters in the country. 


On the status of staff uniforms, Dr. Olaro disclosed that the government has so far provided the national and regional referral hospitals with uniforms and will now be moving to the general hospitals and health center IVs to supply them. He added that by the end of April next year, government would have supplied all the nurses of this country with uniform.


The district chairperson Amuria, Robert Erisat Okitoi called on the locals to own the facility.  The Resident District Commissioner, John Rex Achila pledged to ensure that security in the health unit will be guaranteed because they will soon meet to discuss the theft of property in the facility.


Achila also commended Baylor for showing value for money because the work was totally good.


The Kapelebyong sub county chairperson, Michael Oumo commended government for giving NGOs a free environment to operate in the country.

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