By KT Reporter
The Kitgum District Council has approved the upgrade of six Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs in a move aimed at improving health service delivery, especially in newly created sub-counties that lack such facilities. The decision followed a full council meeting where Emmanuel Lapyem, the District Vice Chairperson and head of government business, presented a report from the District Executive Committee.
Councillors Bosco Oketayot (Labongo Akwang), Rogers Olanya Olila (Mucwini East), and Bosco Kilama (Orom East) supported the motion. The health facilities earmarked for upgrade include Obyen Health Centre II in Kitgum Matidi Sub-county, Lukwor in Labongo Amida, Pudo in Mucwini West, Lalekan in Kiteny, Akuromor in Orom East, and Lakor in Lalano Sub-county.
Dr. Henry Okello Otto, the District Health Officer, said the upgrade will significantly improve service delivery. “The upgrade aligns with the government’s policy requiring every sub-county to have at least one Health Centre III,” he stated. He added that despite this progress, some sub-counties still lack public health facilities, leaving nearly 31,000 people without access to quality healthcare.
He emphasized that the upgrade marks a critical step toward better healthcare but stressed the need for more efforts to ensure every sub-county is served. The approved list will now be submitted to the Ministry of Health for final clearance before the facilities can operate at the new level.
Kitgum District currently has 27 public health facilities: one General Hospital, one Health Centre IV, 13 Health Centre IIIs, and 12 Health Centre IIs. Four newly created sub-counties—Namokora, Namokora North, Omiya Anyima West, and Mucwini East—still lack any public health facility.
Dr. Okello also noted that in some cases, Health Centre IIs exist in sub-counties that already have Health Centre IIIs, citing Tumangur and Pajimo in Labongo Akwang as examples.
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