Apeitolim Health Center II in Napak District has received a new fully equipped inpatient ward.
The Embassy of Japan financially supported the project to have the new inpatient ward.
The inpatient ward worth 300 million shillings was commissioned on Wednesday by the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, Fukuzawa Hidemoto.
The facility has a 5 stance VIP latrine, a furnished inpatient ward with 8 beds each for both men and women, isolation wing for infected patients, toilet facilities, storeroom, pharmacy, treatment room and solar power system. The Embassy also provided a set of medical furniture such as 22 hospital beds, 23 mattresses with PVCs, 2 Drug shelves, 1 examination bed, 2 oxygen concentrators, 4 chairs, 2 doctor’s tables and 1 reception table.
Apeitolim Health Center, established in 1974 is the only Health facility in the sub county that is the nearest to Matany Hospital, a private facility located 78 kilometers away. The facility did not have an inpatient ward and had only two beds in the outpatient ward despite an average of five inpatients per day.
Fukuzawa said that the support is part of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), a scheme administered by the Embassy of Japan to fund community development projects which uplift the life of people at the grass root level.
He revealed that at least a total of 282 projects have been funded under the scheme since its initiation in Uganda in 1992.
Fukuzawa also emphasized on the need for partnership especially with government agencies because the Japan embassy cannot work alone. He urged the local government to consider doing something for their people before calling for any support from the Embassy. He also warned the people against misusing the facilities.
Timothy Teko, the Napak District Health Officer applauded the Japan Embassy for the support stating that the facility will serve over 15,000 people who come from as far as 90 kilometers away from the health facility.
Teko said that the development partners have helped them to cover the 48 percent of the population that has poor access to health facilities.
He revealed that the Ministry of Health under infrastructure development has gazetted two more health facilities to be constructed in the Sub counties of Poron and Lorengecora respectively. He added that there are also plans to upgrade Iririi health center III to IV.
He noted that the upgrade of the health facilities would help to address the challenges of people walking over 130 kilometers to Moroto Regional Referral hospital to access services which could have been handled at health facilities within the district.
John Paul Kodet, the LC5 chairperson of Napak district, said that the new structure is going to enhance the health care system in the district and address some of the health related problems.
Kodet noted that the district is grappling with a high burden of malaria and the situation is made worse due to inadequate health facilities.
Kodet also revealed that the situation has forced most pregnant mothers to opt out for traditional birth attendants since they cannot walk long distances to access health services.
He said the council has also resolved to recruit more health staff to improve on health care service delivery.
Faith Nakut, the Napak district Woman Member of Parliament said that they do not have any government hospital, the situation that has overwhelmed the private health facilities.
Nakut said that they have embarked on the campaigns to sensitize people to manage preventable diseases such as malaria and diarrhea among others through maintenance of personal hygiene and sleeping under treated mosquito nets.
She observed that by preventing diseases before falling sick can reduce the chances of one going to the health facility seeking treatment.
Nakut appealed to the government to construct the theatres in the health center III facilities so that they can be upgraded to health IV where people can access all the health services.
Dennis Okori, the Napak Resident District Commissioner, noted that the government is in the plans to upgrade all the health center II facilities to grade III. He observed that the addition of a new inpatient ward in Apeitolim Health Center will speed up the process of its transition into health center III.
Okori said there is a need to strengthen the health care system to enable the Communities to be productive and healthy.
He further noted that there are deliberate efforts by the government to equip Apeitolim Sub County with modern facilities such as schools, roads, water and health care systems.
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