The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been supporting districts and health facilities in Lango sub-region in delivering comprehensive health services through the Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services (RHITES-North) Lango project.
Dr. James Olum, a senior medical officer in charge of the facility is happy that they have finally recieved the theatre, saying they for a long time they were conducting surgeries in a dilapidated structure which was risky for both patients and medical workers.
Anthony Abura, the deputy head teacher of the school says the swamp needs a bridge to be installed for pupils to cross over to the school. According to him, many pupils especially in lower classes have shunned school due to the impassable road.
Otuke district suffered a prolonged drought that resulted in food insecurity leaving thousands of people starving. The most affected are children and persons living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom have now abandoned their treatment regimens.
Bonny Olap, the LC V councilor of Okwang Town council, says even in 2016, a council resolution forwarded to Otuke district recommended the upgrade of Okwang HCIII to HCIV, which was confirmed by Health Ministry officials during their health center monitoring visit.
The area which lies on the border of the Karamoja sub-region has for years experienced unreliable rainfall punctuated with drought, flood, and hailstorms which caused insufficient agricultural production leading to food insecurity among its populace.
The distribution followed a drive to encourage well-wishers and companies to rescue the communities in Otuke whose lives were threatened by hunger. The drive resulted in the collection of 3 tons of relief food, half of which were donated by Mt. Meru millers.
Jillian Akullo argued that the contractor did not only use weak materials but also did not follow the project design. She cited the fixed doors without glasses, no water pass way in the bathrooms, and weak slabs used in the latrines as challenges that have to be fixed before the project hand over.
Most of the affected persons are the elderly, children and Persons living with HIV and AIDS, many of whom have now abandoned the regimen that is used to slow the rate at which HIV multiplies in the body. The treatment which prevents HIV from replicating and boosts the immunity of patients has to be taken with food, according to medical experts.
Julius Acon Bua, the Otuke County Member of parliament has advised farmers to find alternative sources of food instead of waiting on the government, saying even if the OPM delivers food, whatever they will bring will not be enough for the people since that government is not capable of feeding all Ugandans.
On Saturday last week, Susan Auma, 23, gave birth to her first child at home after failing to get to Orum HC IV in Otuke Town Council due to the lack of transport means. The health facility is 7kms away from her village.
Charles Ogwal, the head teacher of the school says the lack of classrooms has been a very big challenge for the last few years although the district is now trying to solve it.
They were found in possession of Erythromycin, Magnesium, Metronidazole and Piriton tablets, Amoxicillin capsules, Nestatine Oral suspension for children, Malaria RDTs and HIV testing kits among others.
