Gov’t Releases UGX 380 Million for Pandwong Health Centre Upgrade

Construction of Pandwong Health Center III in Pandwong Division in Kitgum Municipality is set to resume.  

3MS technical services which had been contracted to construct a modern maternity ward and placenta pit abandoned the site this year after 380 million shillings meant for its construction was returned to the treasury. 

This was after Kitgum municipal council returned a total of 1.2 billion shillings unspent funds. 

Emmanuel Banya Natal, the Kitgum Municipal Council Town Clerk says that the construction works is set to resume soon.   

He says the Finance Ministry this week released the 380 million shillings to the council account. 

Banya notes that the contractor, who had only received 82 million shillings in advance payment is expected to be paid the balance in a week’s time.  

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He says they have also received money for wages to recruit staffs who will operationalize the health centre adding that by this year, the health facility will become a Health Center III.   

Alice Crane Ajwang, a Midwife at Pandwong Health Center III says the facility is currently in a poor state despite handling many patients from neighbouring areas of Amida, Lamola, Akworo, Opete and Labongo Odonyo.   

She says the facility has no tap water and electricity or solar light installed adding that they rely on rainwater which is inadequate and handheld torches in the night in case patients come to deliver at night.   

Ajwang also notes that the facility has no fence to ensure security of equipment and drug supplies. 

Health officials say deliveries at the facility have been low because of poor state of the maternity ward.  

The news of resumption of the health facility has excited some of the residents of Pandwong Division. 

Mary Lalam, one of the patients says that many expectant women in the areas spend at least 4,000 shillings in transport to deliver in other health facilities in Kitgum Municipality which would have been free while at Pandwong Health centre.

The facility at the moment has only eight staffs with a total record of 1,800 monthly patient’s attendance and four deliveries weekly. It offers wide range of medical services including immunization, antenatal and postnatal care, deliveries and health education.