By Emmanuel Okol
KATAKWI
The opening of the maternity ward and staff house at Akoboi Health Centre III in Akoboi sub county, Ngariam county, Katakwi district on Saturday, 22nd June, 2024 has excited residents.
Construction of the 937 Million Shillings maternity wing, staff house and incinerator was funded by the Joint Medical Stores-JMS to eliminate infant mortality in the area.
The development comes at a time when the number of expectant mothers turning up at the facility to deliver is overwhelming.
The old maternity ward at the health centre could only handle 10 mothers a month and has a lot of cracks.
However, the new maternity wing has the capacity of handling a good number of mothers.
While opening, Simon Peter Okello the chairman of local council one Oyilotor village, thanked the government of Uganda and VP Alupo Jessica Rose Epel for the delighted work towards the people of Katakwi vie health.
“The challenge in the Health centre now is water source, whereby the nearby borehole which is shared with the community has no capacity to accommodate the population” he said.
Jorem Obukui the chairman LC3 Akoboi sub county in his remarks expressed his gratitude to the Vice president of the republic of Uganda Maj Rtd Alupo for being open leader.
He asks the VP Alupo and district leadership to boost Akoboi Health centre III with staffing, beds, male ward, fencing of the institution.
“Akoboi Health centre III covers the population of three sub counties i.e Akoboi Sub County, Getom Sub County and Omosoi Sub County” Obukui said.
Paul Walakira the chief administrative officer Katakwi district in his submission thanked the VP Alupo and Nurses plus doctors for being cooperative vie health in the district.
Walakira says they have allocated 80M Uganda shilling in the next financial budget 2024/2025 for the procurement of the beds to Akoboi sub county and recruiting more staff as well.
Some Residents couldn’t hide their excitement for the opening of the maternity wing, saying it will help reduce maternal and infant mortality through improved health service delivery.
Jane Tino, a resident of Asingei village as well as VHT, says that many of the expected mothers have been trekking a distance to access antenatal care services at Katakwi General Hospital.
Tino is happy that she will be accessing antenatal services at a nearby place.
Meanwhile, the chairperson Katakwi district Local government Hon Geoffrey Omolo, says as a district they have managed to drill two boreholes in Alukucok which will supply water in the entire sub county of Akoboi.
He adds that the district has also allocated money to Akoboi-Bar Obira centre to Abwanget in the next financial year.
Geoffrey Katamba, the Resident district commission Katakwi, says Health is one of the NRM party pillars in the 2021-2026 manifesto program.
He therefore urges the people of Katakwi district to vote wisely come 2026 forthcoming general election because NRM is the only party that can deliver development in the country.
While commissioning the maternity and others, VP of the republic of Uganda Maj Rtd Jessica Rose Alupo Epel, asked the residents to own the facility, saying it has been established for their benefit.
She added that places with such facilities tend to develop at a higher rate since residents live in a disease-free environment.
The VP also tasked the health workers to handle expectant mothers with dignity because they have been called to great service by God.
She however, adds that the operationalization of the maternity ward is very significant in the lives of residents, saying mothers will find it easy to deliver.
