Azur Christian Health Centre brings healing closer to the poor
Feb 06, 2008
WITH sleepy eyes and laboured breathing, Imelda Kyaligonza struggles to rise from her bed. Her pale face is unmistakable. Her wobbly hands strain as she tries to gain a firm grip of both sides of the bed. But even when she manages to sit, this peasant from Bugambe village in Hoima district does it w
By Stephen Ssenkaaba
WITH sleepy eyes and laboured breathing, Imelda Kyaligonza struggles to rise from her bed. Her pale face is unmistakable. Her wobbly hands strain as she tries to gain a firm grip of both sides of the bed. But even when she manages to sit, this peasant from Bugambe village in Hoima district does it with difficulty.
“I have typhoid and pain in my tubes,†she murmurs.
Kyaligonza is admitted to the general ward at Azur Christian Centre in Hoima. Despite her weak state, she is optimistic. “I know I will be fine,†she says.
Kyaligonza is among thousands of poor people who receive treatment at this facility.
One of a handful of functional private health units in Hoima, the clinic provides cheap and professional medical care to different people. Owned and run by Bunyoro Kitara Diocese, the centre was reopened in 2003 after a long period without operation. Today, Azur Clinic treats over 1,000 patients every month.
“We reopened with just an out-patient department,†says Joseph B. Aliguma, the clinic administrator. Within two years, the centre has expanded to include a general ward and a maternity ward. The centre offers diagnostic, curative, preventive as well as laboratory services. It also offers voluntary counselling and HIV testing, immunisation, minor surgeries, family planning and health education, spiritual guidance as well as maternity services (antenatal and delivery). With financial assistance from America, the hospital has now acquired a surgical ward and staff houses whose construction is nearing completion.
The new structures were last week blessed and dedicated to God by His Grace Henry Luke Orombi, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda during celebrations to mark the second diocesan convention.
Reaching out to the community
For the last four years, Azur Clinic has had a tremendous impact on the local communities in Hoima and beyond. It has brought health services closer to the people who would otherwise not have accessed them. Many people who use the health facilities are poor peasants from Hoima and the surrounding areas. A good number of them do not have money to pay their medical bills.
“Knowing very well that many of our local people do not have enough money to pay their bills, we charge modest fees and in some cases, we treat free of charge,†says David Byamukama, the in-charge medical clinical officer.
People from as far as Masindi, Kibaale and other neighbouring towns come to access medical services here.
“I was in a bad state when I came, but I am slowly recovering. I am happy about the attention given to us by the nurses,†says Fred Byaruhanga, a herdsman from Ntoma in Masindi district.
More importantly, Azur Clinic has helped ease the burden of congestion and poor facilities that the only government regional referral hospital in Hoima has been facing for years.
“We admit about 340 patients everyday. But there are only 280 beds,†says Dr. Emmanuel Moro, the medical superintendent. “We receive about 300 outpatients daily in a space just enough for 150. Our maternity ward has only 50 beds and yet we receive 70 and above of expectant mothers every day,†he says.
“Many patients sleep on the floor while others are referred elsewhere. The establishment of Azur Christian Clinic is, therefore, a timely intervention by the Church of Uganda in its efforts to extend health services to the people,†he said.
As a Health Centre III, Azur clinic is one of few health centres of its caliber that own a surgical ward. And with only one operational clinic at the Health Centre IV level in the district with a population of about 430,000 people, the clinic provides an invaluable service to the community.
Enormous challenges
The clinic still faces enormous challenges.
“Our biggest challenge is funding,†says the Rt. Rev Nathan Kyamanywa, the Archbishop of Bunyoro Kitara Diocese. He says limited funding has hampered the acquisition of modern facilities and delayed the expansion of the clinic.
He added that the clinic depends largely on the goodwill of people from the West and sometimes from generous contributions of the local communities.
“We appeal to the Government to support us,†he said.
James Joloba, the diocesan, health secretary also noted that inadequate staffing is a stumbling block for the growing health unit.
“Out of the 20 staff members, we have six full time nurses, one lab assistant, three midwives and two clinical officers. This is not sufficient to handle the increasing number of patients. We shall soon require a medical officer,†he says.
Church/Royal legacy
This clinic was established in 1984 as Bunyoro Kitara Diocese Clinic on a piece of land offered by Princess Alexandria Komukyeya, a midwife and daughter to Omukama Duhaga of Bunyoro. Under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Yonasani Rwakaikara, the then diocesan bishop, and Yesero Byakagaba, the first clinical officer there, the clinic carried on its operations under the roof of the diocesan offices.
In 1987 the hospital closed due to operational constraints. It was reopened in 2003 with financial assistance from the Azur family from the US and the clinic has since expanded. Much of the renovations and new structures have been put up with financial assistance from the Azur family, from which the clinic’s name was derived. There have been other donations from an anonymous donor from the UK, the Sherlock family from the UK and the local community.
Without much support from the Government, Bunyoro Kitara Diocese has revived Azur Christian Health Centre. Its existence puts the Government’s commitment to supporting such noble initiatives into focus.
WITH sleepy eyes and laboured breathing, Imelda Kyaligonza struggles to rise from her bed. Her pale face is unmistakable. Her wobbly hands strain as she tries to gain a firm grip of both sides of the bed. But even when she manages to sit, this peasant from Bugambe village in Hoima district does it with difficulty.
“I have typhoid and pain in my tubes,†she murmurs.
Kyaligonza is admitted to the general ward at Azur Christian Centre in Hoima. Despite her weak state, she is optimistic. “I know I will be fine,†she says.
Kyaligonza is among thousands of poor people who receive treatment at this facility.
One of a handful of functional private health units in Hoima, the clinic provides cheap and professional medical care to different people. Owned and run by Bunyoro Kitara Diocese, the centre was reopened in 2003 after a long period without operation. Today, Azur Clinic treats over 1,000 patients every month.
“We reopened with just an out-patient department,†says Joseph B. Aliguma, the clinic administrator. Within two years, the centre has expanded to include a general ward and a maternity ward. The centre offers diagnostic, curative, preventive as well as laboratory services. It also offers voluntary counselling and HIV testing, immunisation, minor surgeries, family planning and health education, spiritual guidance as well as maternity services (antenatal and delivery). With financial assistance from America, the hospital has now acquired a surgical ward and staff houses whose construction is nearing completion.
The new structures were last week blessed and dedicated to God by His Grace Henry Luke Orombi, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda during celebrations to mark the second diocesan convention.
Reaching out to the community
For the last four years, Azur Clinic has had a tremendous impact on the local communities in Hoima and beyond. It has brought health services closer to the people who would otherwise not have accessed them. Many people who use the health facilities are poor peasants from Hoima and the surrounding areas. A good number of them do not have money to pay their medical bills.
“Knowing very well that many of our local people do not have enough money to pay their bills, we charge modest fees and in some cases, we treat free of charge,†says David Byamukama, the in-charge medical clinical officer.
People from as far as Masindi, Kibaale and other neighbouring towns come to access medical services here.
“I was in a bad state when I came, but I am slowly recovering. I am happy about the attention given to us by the nurses,†says Fred Byaruhanga, a herdsman from Ntoma in Masindi district.
More importantly, Azur Clinic has helped ease the burden of congestion and poor facilities that the only government regional referral hospital in Hoima has been facing for years.
“We admit about 340 patients everyday. But there are only 280 beds,†says Dr. Emmanuel Moro, the medical superintendent. “We receive about 300 outpatients daily in a space just enough for 150. Our maternity ward has only 50 beds and yet we receive 70 and above of expectant mothers every day,†he says.
“Many patients sleep on the floor while others are referred elsewhere. The establishment of Azur Christian Clinic is, therefore, a timely intervention by the Church of Uganda in its efforts to extend health services to the people,†he said.
As a Health Centre III, Azur clinic is one of few health centres of its caliber that own a surgical ward. And with only one operational clinic at the Health Centre IV level in the district with a population of about 430,000 people, the clinic provides an invaluable service to the community.
Enormous challenges
The clinic still faces enormous challenges.
“Our biggest challenge is funding,†says the Rt. Rev Nathan Kyamanywa, the Archbishop of Bunyoro Kitara Diocese. He says limited funding has hampered the acquisition of modern facilities and delayed the expansion of the clinic.
He added that the clinic depends largely on the goodwill of people from the West and sometimes from generous contributions of the local communities.
“We appeal to the Government to support us,†he said.
James Joloba, the diocesan, health secretary also noted that inadequate staffing is a stumbling block for the growing health unit.
“Out of the 20 staff members, we have six full time nurses, one lab assistant, three midwives and two clinical officers. This is not sufficient to handle the increasing number of patients. We shall soon require a medical officer,†he says.
Church/Royal legacy
This clinic was established in 1984 as Bunyoro Kitara Diocese Clinic on a piece of land offered by Princess Alexandria Komukyeya, a midwife and daughter to Omukama Duhaga of Bunyoro. Under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Yonasani Rwakaikara, the then diocesan bishop, and Yesero Byakagaba, the first clinical officer there, the clinic carried on its operations under the roof of the diocesan offices.
In 1987 the hospital closed due to operational constraints. It was reopened in 2003 with financial assistance from the Azur family from the US and the clinic has since expanded. Much of the renovations and new structures have been put up with financial assistance from the Azur family, from which the clinic’s name was derived. There have been other donations from an anonymous donor from the UK, the Sherlock family from the UK and the local community.
Without much support from the Government, Bunyoro Kitara Diocese has revived Azur Christian Health Centre. Its existence puts the Government’s commitment to supporting such noble initiatives into focus.