NALUBWOYO HCIII IN AMOLATAR DISTRICT REMAINS IDLE FIVE MONTHS AFTER COMMISSIONING

The complete Nalubwoyo HCIII that is reportedly lying idle. Photo by Ambrose Okai.

By Ambrose Okai

Amolatar
 
Despite government efforts to have Health Center III in every Sub county, Nalubwoyo HCIII in Amolatar District, is still lying idle five months after completion of its work.
 
The 1.4billion shillings Health facility that was commissioned by the State Minister for Northern Uganda Dr. Kenneth Omona in April, 2024 on behalf of the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja would have saved 16,400 people in Nalubwoyo Sub County from trekking to about 20 kilometers for health service at Alyec-meda HCIII or Amolatar HCIV.

The State minister for Northern Uganda Dr. Kenneth Omona while commissioning the facility made pronouncement of the possible challenges that facility is likely to face. ‘’As we commission this facility, I am aware of the gaps that are pending implementation. For example, provision of drugs, staff and other needed health equipment. My office will undertake follow-ups with the Ministry of Health and the national medical stores to provide the needed drugs to this facility,’’ Omona said.

Geoffrey Ocen, the LCV Chairperson of Amolatar district said his office is in touch with ministry of finance and they are yet waiting for their promise to consider having Nalubwoyo HCIII prioritized this financial year.

‘’The process of accessing medicine and staffing is not yet complete. We have sent the structure to the Ministry of Public Service and we are told by the end of this month they will approve that structure. We have also submitted to the Ministry of Health for medicines and also other necessary equipment for that facility. They have not promised a fast response but they say they will be considering Amolatar in the course of the financial year. So we continue following up,’’ Ocen narrated.

State Minister for Northern Uganda Dr Kenneth Omona Commisioning Nalubwoyo HCIII on behalf
of the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja in April, 2024. Photo by Ambrose Okai.

Amolatar District Health officer, Dr Tonny Odongo appealed to ministry of health and finance to prioritize capturing Nalubwoyo HCIII in the current budget planning Consultation which is underway.

‘’We are facing challenges of fully effecting the functionality of this facility. Reason being, we are lacking medical equipment, we lack also drugs and other medical sandwiches, PHC to run the facilities, and also wage for recruitment. So we want to appeal to the ministry of health and finance, so that in this budget consultative meeting, we prioritize having this facility captured, so that we can have all these required components in a bid to fully functionalize the health facility,’’Odongo said.

Resident district commissioner Amolatar, Francise Rwot Longo Odoki wondered why Nalubwoyo HCIII has remained non-functional even after fully commissioning.
‘’You're aware that in the past we received a delegation from the Office of the Prime Minister, led by the Minister of Northern Uganda, that is Dr. Kenneth Omona, who came and officially commissioned the health Centre, Nalubwoyo. But with time we started questioning what is happening, because the health centre is dormant, there is no supply, we don't have health workers, but the health centre has been commissioned. So we are in consultation with the Minister of Health and our technical team from the district on how, as a district, we can work together to ensure that we restore or we revamp Nalubwoyo Health Centre, which currently is not operational,’’Odoki said.

 “We have many people going to the health centre in search of services, but they cannot access health services due to, one, no human resource. Two, we don't have supplies, no drugs, no nothing. So that is currently the status. We are engaging the different partners to ensure that the health centre can start its operation effective October,” He added.