?If someone was
here to look at me,
they would see how
tears are rolling
down my cheek as a
result of poor health
service delivery in
Apac General
Hospital. The civil
servants have low
morale for work due
to the poor living
condition. They
have poor sanitation
and poor pay. As
Management, we
are trying to do what
we can to improve
the health service
delivery.?
- Bob Aboce, Chairman
Management Board of Apac
Hospital, addressing the
community during a CAP
sponsored radio program
17
REVITALIZING TH E DISTRICT H OSPITAL
Constructed in 1969, Apac General Hospital is one of the
iconic structures still standing in the district. It is a key facility
expected to serve an estimated 300 people daily. However,
the facility has become dilapidated and in disrepair over the
past 40+ years with little investment in its maintenance.
In August 2014, a community meeting was held over the
problems at Apac Hospital. Issues discussed ranged from
the ambulance that had been broken down for more than
two years, the dilapidated infrastructure of the hospital, a
non-functioning sewage system, malfunctioning x-ray and
ultrasound machines, and wards and staff quarters in a sorry
state with destroyed doors, windows, ceilings and roofs,
smelly and worn out, among other issues.
After hearing from the community and witnessing many of
the challenges firsthand, local leaders leaped into action.
After both national level engagements from ACCU and
requests filed on behalf of local government leaders in
Apac, the Ministry of Health (MoH) delivered a brand new
ambulance for transporting patients, allocated 500 million
Ugandan Shillings to rehabilitate the hospital, and installed
new x-ray and ultra sound machines.
Beyond these specific achievements, more attention on the
facility has improved its functioning overall. The general
hygiene of the hospital has improved and staffing has
increased from 60 to 80% capacity. An arrival book provides
a new system to record and track health worker late arrivals
and absences.
PICTURED: The Apac District Hospital Maternity Ward under renovation with new funding from the Ministry of Health.