By KT Reporter
Lwampanga Health Center III in Nakasongola district is struggling to operate a year after it was relocated due to floods.
In 2020, water levels of Lake Kyoga went up, submerging shorelines, swamps, and displacing thousands of residents. The floods also submerged Lwampanga Health Center and Moone Primary School.
The Office of the Prime Minister allocated 1.3 billion shillings to relocate and reconstruct both facilities and the school in safer places, which work was undertaken by the engineering brigade of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces.
In April 2024, Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister, handed over the newly constructed Lwampanga health center facility at Mbaali village in Lwampanga town council, which excited locals and residents.
However, close to a year later, local leaders say the health center is yet to serve its intended purpose over inadequate staff, drugs and lack of medical equipment.
Bruno Ssengombe, the LCIII Chairperson of Lwampanga town council, said that equipment from the old facility was transferred to the new buildings, but the majority of it had been damaged, and others were obsolete.
Ssengombe added that currently, the facility is operating without maternity beds, delivery beds, and beds in other patients’ wards, something that has affected service delivery.
He adds that the facility is also operating with 10 out of 16 health workers, of whom some absented themselves, which forced him to compel them to sign commitment letters or be recommended for transfers.
“After the facility was submerged, we relocated to the furthest point of the town council, which is safer, but patients need to walk a long distance to access it. They feel disappointed to walk such a distance but find poor health services. Some have since shunned it, something that has contributed to a decline in patients visiting it,” Ssengombe said.
The facility is also battling a water shortage after the tanks installed failed to collect enough water to supply it throughout the year due to a drought that hit the area.
Samuel Kaweesa, a resident, said even the solar equipment that was installed at the facility is weak and unable to power the entire health center, leaving some wards in darkness at night.
Dr Agaba Byamukama, the Nakasongola District Health Officer, admitted the shortfalls and also appealed to the Ministry of Health as well as the Office of the Prime Minister to fulfill her pledges to procure new medical equipment for the health center.
Victoria Zawedde Naranzi, the District Woman Member of Parliament, said although they are happy that the OPM responded and constructed the facility, they need the medical equipment to ensure services are delivered.
Zawedde said they brought the matter to the attention of the Prime Minister during the commissioning of the buildings last year, and she pledged to support the equipping, something they are still waiting to be fulfilled.
On her visit to Nakasongola on Tuesday, the leaders asked Lilian Aber, the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, to remind the Prime Minister about her pledges to the facility.
Aber promised to inform the Prime Minister about the pledges towards the facility-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
