In Layima Sub county, Amuru District, Omee Health Centre II is grappling with an overwhelming influx of patients, urging authorities to consider upgrading the facility to better cater to the needs of the community. With over 30,000 people in the two sub counties, health officials express concerns about the facility’s ability to handle the increasing demand for medical services.
Amuru District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr John Bosco Opio, emphasizes the necessity of upgrading the health centre to provide a more extensive range of services to the local population. The Senior District Health Officer, Mr Galdinus Okwonga, echoes this sentiment, stressing the urgency of discussing the situation given the disproportionate ratio of patients to health workers.
Health personnel at Omee Health Centre II are actively seeking the intervention of both government and private partners to elevate the facility to a Health Centre III. Mr Alfred Nokrach, the In-charge of the health centre, points out that the facility currently serves a substantial population spanning two sub counties, Layima and Lakang, where the latter lacks a government health facility.
Mr Nokrach details the challenges faced by the health centre, revealing that during planting and harvesting seasons, the facility experiences a surge in patients. The influx includes workers moving to the area for farming activities, affecting the efficiency of services provided. Although the facility does not admit patients with severe conditions, it faces increased demand for HIV/AIDS services, indicating a pressing need for an upgrade.
Despite being a Health Centre II, Omee Health Centre lacks the capacity to offer Antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic services. Mr Nokrach mentions the high demand for HIV testing services, particularly for pregnant women, and the facility’s struggle to obtain sufficient testing kits. An upgrade is deemed essential to address these gaps and provide comprehensive healthcare services to the surrounding villages.
The Senior District Health Officer, Mr Galdinus Okwonga, emphasizes the inadequacy of laboratory services to meet the population’s testing needs before treatment. He suggests exploring options to bring in additional staff from different health facilities on a weekly basis and highlights the urgent need to improve the laboratory at Otwe Health Centre III to handle the large number of samples.
In agreement with the health officials, Amuru District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr John Bosco Opio, stresses the significance of upgrading Omee Health Centre II. He notes that the current setup does not adequately cover the diverse medical needs of the local population, especially those in Lakang, who have to travel long distances to access healthcare services.
Mr Opio points out the challenges faced by the community due to the vast size of Amuru District, leading to difficulties in accessing medical services. The long distances create opportunities for traditional birth attendants to operate, presenting risks in cases where the mother is HIV positive. The upgrade is seen as a crucial step in bridging the gap and ensuring accessible and safe healthcare services for all residents.
