By Sabir Musa

Arua

Community members of Ajono Parish in Vurra Sub County, Arua District now have easy access to health services after Kawuanzeti Health Centre 3 opened for services, years after relying on facilities in others areas.

In 1980s, the community fundraised through organising disco to build a house on land that was donated by one of the residents with aim of constructing a health centre that mainly served as an outreach centre for many years, until 3 years ago when a project to construct the health centre 3 was secured.

A Village Health Team (VHT) member in the parish, David Anziku explains that a lot has changed at the facility as they continue mobilizing communities. “And now government has brought for us this big health centre which is a blessing to the community, people’s attitude is very good since services are near to them and ours as VHT members is to do the mobilisation in the community” Anziku comments. 

Before this facility became operational, community members used to trek more than 5 kilometres for treatment at health centres like Kuluvu and Pajulu, piling more burden on the facilities.

One of the community members, Charity Ecomasia who was at the Out Patient Department waiting for drugs by press time shared joy stating that it is now easy for them to access health services. “Now when we come here, they give medicine without sending us out to look for medicines” she noted.

Although services at this facility have started, the health centre awaits code from Ministry of Health to receive medicine and medical equipment. “We request medicines from other health centres through the district so they give us what is excess. That means we still lack many of the essential medicines” the Health Centre In charge, Michael Ejidra explained.

Kawuanjeti Health Centre 3 has a catchment population of 11,198 people, and also attracts others the neighbouring DR Congo located about 5 kilometres away from the facility.

COVER PHOTO: The old structure constructed by community of Ajono Parish left as a historical structure. Behind is one of the newly constructed structures housing maternity ward By Sabir Musa