DELAYED COMPLETION OF SHS 1.7BN AMBULANCE MANAGEMENT FACILITY WORRIES STAKEHOLDERS
Current Status of Construction Works at the Regional Ambulance Call and Dispatch Facility in Arua Regional Referral Hospital.
By Federick Dramadri
The slow pace of construction works at the Regional Ambulance Call and Dispatch facility situated at Arua Regional Referral Hospital is attracting concerns among the local leaders.
The facility that was contracted by Ministry Health to CK Associates Ltd at a cost of 448,344 euros an approximate of 1.7 billion shillings financed by the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel was a one year project whose contract period expired in June 2024 and later extended to December 31st this year.
Project engineers estimate that the already completed works are at 79%.
According to Kalsum Fadimula the secretary for social services Arua city council, the delay in delivery of the facility is affecting service delivery as cases of emergencies are rampant especially during the festival season.
“Am even worried as the secretary for health if the project will be handed over to us in December because that is where we extended the period and I would not like it extended beyond May next year. People are in dire need of using the facility.”
Meanwhile Gilbert Aniku the Acting Director Arua Regional Referral Hospital reveals that the project is managed by central government and the Hospital has nothing much to explain on the matter.
George Waligo the General Project Foreman on the other hand explained that they faced a lot of challenges in executing the construction works ranging from mobilization of construction material, the renovation of Karuma Bridge among others that grossly affected the pace of works.
“We experienced many challenges including the weather, mobilizing local materials such as the Bricks and Bamboo which are special orders from Masaka as the design of the facility is unique.”
As per the 2020 National Emergency Medical Strategic Plan, government of Uganda gave 13 functional Ambulances to address challenges in referrals and emergencies for West Nile region.
The Regional Ambulance Call and Dispatch facility is expected to address challenges faced by the citizens in West Nile Region in connecting to ambulances from the 13 districts across the region.
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