Anaka General Hospital in Nwoya district has received a major boost with the rehabilitation of its water system.The hospital had been operating for more than ten years without reliable running water. Three of its main water sources broke down in 2013. Although repairs were undertaken in 2015, the system malfunctioned again.
The Hospital’s Executive Consultant, Dr. Jolly Joe Lapat, said the lack of water had made it very hard to run the hospital, especially in important areas like the maternity ward, operating room, lab, and bathrooms.
He revealed that the hospital was relying on water fetched from outside sources for routine and critical services in theaters and wards. He explained that this not only interrupted daily work but also made important equipment, like sterilization machines, impossible to use because they need a steady water supply.
He said the caretakers were often required to fetch at least four jerry cans of water before a patient could be admitted for surgery, an arrangement he said posed serious risks, especially during emergencies.
The facility could not raise sufficient funds from its limited Primary Health Care (PHC) allocation, which stands at about 140 million shillings annually.However, relief came on Monday after Total Energies E&P Uganda, under its corporate social responsibility programme, refurbished the water system.
The refurbishment was implemented by Engineers Without Borders East Africa.The project manager, Michael Muhindo, said the works involved revamping two of the three borehole water sources, upgrading the supply and distribution system, and installing two hybrid pumps powered by both solar energy and electricity.
He said that they also installed 12 tap stands, 10 in the staff quarters to benefit the surrounding community, and two within the hospital.Additionally, they replaced fittings, fixtures, and sinks in wards and theaters, and also installed water tanks in the theater and pediatric departments.
He said the new hybrid pumping system is capable of delivering up to 9,000 litres of water per hour and can operate for up to 16 hours a day, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply.
Dr. Lapat welcomed the intervention, saying the restoration of water in critical departments will significantly improve efficiency, service delivery, and infection prevention and control at the hospital.
Dr. James Okello, the Acting Nwoya District Health Officer, said the lack of partner support over the years had hindered efforts to address the crisis despite repeated appeals. He said the district developed a concept note in 2023, which was later picked up by Total Energies, although procurement delays slowed the start of the project.
He added that the restored water system will now enable the effective use of previously idle equipment, such as sterilizers in the theater.
Peter Nzabanita, the Executive Director at Engineers Without Borders East Africa, called on the hospital management to ensure that the system is routinely maintained. For the next six months, during the defect liability period, the contractor will conduct maintenance works on the refurbished water systems according to Nzabanita.
This isn’t the first time Total Energies E&P Uganda has supported the hospital. In 2022, the French oil firm renovated a 12-unit housing block for staff at the hospital that was already dilapidated.
Anaka Hospital is one of the busiest health facilities in the Acholi sub-region, handling an average of 15,000 outpatient visits and about 3,000 admissions every quarter.
The facility also records approximately 1,000 deliveries and conducts between 500 and 600 surgical operations per quarter, all of which require a reliable water supply. URN