Needs of Healthcare Center

Delivery Room

We visited the rural Health Center Level IV at the town of Tororo and the rural Health Center Level II at the village of Muwafu.  Health Center IV has a maternity ward, a men's unit, a women's unit, and a pediatric unit.  Each unit has about 10 beds.  The delivery room was most shocking.  There are two delivery beds with minimal equipment and comfort.  The doctor said about 75% of pregnant women receive prenatal care, but only 25% go to a health center to deliver mainly due to the lack of transportation.  The laboratory has no running water due to problems with the plumbing system for the hospital.  The administration explained that it would require approximately US $600 dollars to repair, which could take two years or more for them to receive the funding from the government.  Without proper plumbing system, it increases the risk of health care workers to infectious diseases.  We took a few minutes to encourage the patients and families.





Addressing the patients and families at the women's unit



     

Pediatric Unit

  
 





Laboratory



Currently, Honorable Jacob Oboth is trying to raise money to buy a used ambulance from Japan, which would cost US $20,000.  There is no ambulance at this time to bring patients to the health center or the hospital.  During an emergency, family members would try to borrow a motorcycle from neighbors to transport their loved one to the health center.  Recently, a pregnant woman died on the way to the health center because she was not able to get to the health center in time.   Fortunately, the baby survived the delivery.  The doctor at the health center uses his personal vehicle to deliver patients to the hospital, which is at least 2 hours away.

Doctor's vehicle is used as an ambulance to deliver patients to hospital.

We also visited the Health Center Level II at  the Muwafu Village.  This clinic was founded by Don and Ruth Newville and is supported by Trinity Community Aid Network (TCAN).   A retired nurse, Nancy, screens and dispenses medication to patients according to their health conditions.  Patients not responding to treatment are referred to Health Center III.