A fundraising drive worth Shs400 million has been launched to upgrade Mudodo Health Centre II in Nyangole sub-county to a Health Centre III, improving healthcare access for the underserved population in Tororo District.
The initiative, spearheaded by former Ugandan High Commissioner to Kenya, Amb Phibby Awere Otaala, through her organization Hands of Hope, aims to address critical gaps in medical services, infrastructure, and staffing at the facility.
The launch event was graced by 22 delegates from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) champions from Copenhagen, Denmark, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for international collaboration in achieving healthcare improvements.
Mudodo Health Centre II, initially built by Amb Otaala herself, has struggled with inadequate space, staff shortages, and a lack of proper storage for essential medicines, particularly vaccines.
"Previously, women and children received immunizations under a mango tree," Amb Otaala stated. "Vaccines expired due to a lack of refrigeration. Now, we have proper storage, but we need to do much more."
Over the past decade, Hands of Hope invested over USh.100 million in improving the health centre, including constructing a new building equipped with a vaccine cooler. However, with patient numbers growing rapidly, further expansion is crucial.
The new fundraising drive will finance the construction of two additional facilities, increasing the health centre’s capacity to provide better healthcare services to the community.
George Olowo, the LC3 Chairperson of Nyangole, stressed the dire need for urgent intervention.
"The situation is critical. Our sub-county is mandated to have a Health Centre III, but this facility is simply overwhelmed. We have over 400 patients daily, insufficient waiting space, and severe staffing shortages. Pregnant women and other patients are forced to wait outside, even in the rain," Olowo lamented.
Olowo further emphasized the challenges of accessing alternative healthcare facilities, adding that despite repeated appeals to district authorities, little progress has been made.
The fundraising drive has received strong backing from district leaders. Hajj Sadiq Bategana Bakale, the Resident District Commissioner of Tororo, praised Amb Otaala's dedication, calling it a "relief" for the struggling community.
Meanwhile, Isaac Opile, the LC1 of Mudodo village, who was among several leaders at the event, commended Amb. Awere’s efforts, urging the district population to support her bid for the Woman Member of Parliament seat, believing that her leadership would bring much-needed development in the healthcare sector.
"Tororo has, for years, missed such a leader and great lobbyist. Amb. Awere’s leadership would significantly improve healthcare access in our communities," Opile remarked.
Amb. Awere emphasized that the success of the project heavily depends on community involvement and strategic partnerships.
"Ninety percent of our success is due to the community's dedication. This project belongs to the women, men, and children of this community," she affirmed.
The Shs400 million fundraising drive marks a significant step towards bridging the healthcare gap in Nyangole, demonstrating the power of community-led development and global partnerships in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.