By Dramadri Frederick

Arua

Arua district leaders are in advance stages of operationalizing services at Kawuanzeti Health Center III that was blocked by a landlord over unpaid arrears for the last two years. The newly constructed health facility located in Ndrivu village, Ajonyo Parish in Vuraa Sub County under Arua district was ready for use since 2021 but due to unpaid balances of 15 million shillings by the district local government for the land, the landlord Muzee Yoram Onyoli took away the keys of the facility, however following several meetings conducted with the landlord materialized as the keys were handed over recently to the district officials on condition the balance is settled next financial year as they agreed without any other postponement.

Paul Bishop Drileba Arua district Acting Health officer reveals that, arrangements are in high gear to ensure at least all the services are opened to the community. ”we had already placed the beds, that facility has quite number of other things like the microscope, and other tools and equipment including the skeletal staff that were ready for its operationalization, but we were so discouraged and disappointed that the Land lord took away the keys of the facility so they were unable to access it” Drileba explained
In December 2022, residents in Ajonyo Parish threatened to block the commissioning of Kawuanzeti health center III citing lack of kitchen, constant functional water and electricity, undecorated compound design with claims that some money for the construction was swindled, but authorities in the district pledge to address these next financial year

Jimmy Ali an assistant chief administrative officer Arua district says despite some gaps existing for the smooth running of the facility, they will resolve others services keep on course. “the issue of water is key, we don’t have a piped water but we have a borehole that we could use in the meantime, then the issue of kitchen for patients is beyond us now because we don’t have some money at the moment but with the sub county authorities we think this will be put in place next financial year” Ali stated
Solomon Anguzu the Councilor Vurra Sub County who is the secretary finance planning and Administration Arua district confirms that operational funds are already approved awaiting personnel on duty. “The Health Unit Monitoring Committee HUMC is already formed and we have approved as a district 6 million for them to start work and we expect that there’s not need from now that this facility should delay anymore”. Anguzu confirmed

Landlord Muzee Yoram Onyoli handing over facility Keys to Jimmy Ali Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Arua District Local Government

Ministry of health deployed 20 beds at this facility plus 15 more by United Nations International Children’s Education Fund UNICEF to boast its functionality
The female councilor Vurra Sub county Eyokia Hope says maternal mothers and children face challenges in getting access to better services coupled with distances to the health facilities of Ovisoni health center III and Kuluva hospital which are far distant from the communities noting that, patients could easily die in case of emergent diseases. “In cases of labor or any other sickness at night it makes it sometimes hard to access medication but with the operationalization I feel it’s a great deal for the people to improve the health seeking behavior of our community”. Eyokia stated

Alfred Okuonzi, the Local council five chairperson of Arua district emphasizes on quality service delivery to the people. “Emphasis has to be laid on quality of service delivery, the health service here must be of quality, to improve the health status of our people as sick people are not productive and drive us to poverty”. Okuonzi emphasized
Kawuanzeti Health Center III was constructed by Whimsy U Limited to the tune of about 1.9 billion shillings.

COVER PHOTO: The three years un operationalized Kawuanzeti Health center III in Ajono Parish, Arua district By Dramadri Frederick