Oyam gets over Shs 140mln for health workers’ quarters
OYAM-The government is constructing two twin staff houses at Ariba Health Centre, in Abok Subcounty, Oyam district. The new houses, when completed will address the challenge of inadequate accommodation faced by the health workers.
The project worth Shs 148 million is under Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer [UGIFT] programme and is being financed by the World Bank. The contract was awarded to Lango Waa investment Limited.
Handing over the site to the contractor on Tuesday the Oyam district assistant health officer, Caroline Agaro said the district is facing a shortage of health workers as well as lack of accommodation for effective health service delivery.
She said the government through the Ministry of Health has also allocated funds towards the recruitment of more staff and improve on their welfare.
At least 200 patients visit the health facility daily but it has only eight health workers, namely two midwives and six health staff at the outpatient department.
The health facilities which include Anyeke, Acimi, Loro, Minakulu, Aber, Atipe, Acut, Acaba, Kamdini, Otwal, Ngai, Iceme among others face similar challenges ranging from lack of staff accommodation, inadequate health workers and limited services.
The Abok sub-county LCIII chairperson, Philips Ogile said a maternity ward was constructed at the health unit but that it is still unoccupied because of several defects as the contractor did shoddy work.
He said the facility has only a small maternity section for pregnant mothers going for antenatal care and for delivery.
“The services and facility is not enough and some of our people trek to Lalogi health unit in Omoro to seek medical services,” he said.
According to the information at the facility, 25 to 50 pregnant mothers come for antenatal care daily.
Ogile said the sub-county leadership they have rejected the new ward because it was not properly constructed.
https://thecooperator.news/mayor-protests-as-district-council-diverts-shs1-8b-for-health-facility/
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