Soroti City Council, on Thursday, December 5, 2024, approved the construction of a Health Centre III in Arapai, located in Omagoro Cell, Amoru Ward, Soroti City West.
The new facility is expected to serve hundreds of residents in Arapai and neighboring areas, including parts of Soroti District and Katine.
The decision to approve the construction of the Health Centre III came after extensive consultations, including a fact-finding mission by the Soroti City Council.
Juliet Agonyo, the Speaker of Soroti City during a meeting with the community of Amoru Ward on Friday November 6th, 2024 made a public announcement that the council had received confirmation from the government that the necessary land, estimated to be seven acres, was available for the project.
“We are here at Arapai, a new site where the Health Centre II is supposed to shift because the other side of the blood bank has already taken over that land. But what we are doing here today is basically to do a groundbreaking,” Agonyo remarked during the launch event.
The decision was also backed by a resolution passed by the City Council, which recognized the urgent need for the facility due to the large population and limited access to healthcare.
As Agonyo noted, the construction of the new health center would ensure the continuity of healthcare services in the region, alleviating the pressure on the existing Health Centre II in the area, which had been facing challenges of overcrowding and limited facilities.
In an effort to expedite the process, the area Member of Parliament (MP) for Soroti City West, Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, announced that he would provide financial support for the initial stages of construction.
Ebwalu, who has been an advocate for improved infrastructure in Soroti City West, emphasized that he would not wait for government funding to kickstart the project.
“My job as the leader, as a Member of Parliament, is to coordinate all these activities of the city, activities of the division, and then the Ministry, to ensure that this health centre becomes a reality here,” he said.
The MP expressed his commitment to ensuring the project proceeds without delay.
He revealed that he would contribute funds towards the foundation, slab, and initial wall construction.
“I’m going to put in some little money today to start the foundation. Go ahead to put the slab. Go ahead to do the wall. The city will find me moving. The Ministry will find me moving. That’s why we are here,” Ebwalu stated, underscoring the urgency of the project.
The construction of the new Health Centre III is a crucial development for the region.
Daniel Okello, the Speaker of Soroti City West Division, highlighted that the facility would not only benefit the residents of Omagoro but also provide healthcare services to people from neighboring areas, including those from Soroti District and Katine.
“This hospital here that we are launching today is not only going to benefit people of this cell, it is going to benefit the entire community of Amoru, people from Arapai, and even people from the neighboring district like Soroti District and Katine,” Okello explained.
Okello further emphasized the significant role the new health centre would play in addressing the growing healthcare needs of the region.
He noted that with a population increasing by the day, there was a pressing need for more healthcare facilities to reduce the strain on existing ones.
“Access to health services is really a big challenge because right now when you look at the populations that we have, they are too huge when we compare them to the health centers that we have,” Okello added.
The project has garnered widespread support from local leaders and the community.
Betty Akiro, the Soroti City West Councillor representing Amoru and Arapai wards, expressed her satisfaction with the approval of the Health Centre III.
“I’m very glad and pleased with the program of bringing a Health Centre III to Amoru ward, Omagoro cell. It’s been very difficult because from here up to Health Centre IV, that’s the Diana Health Centre IV, even transport was a very big problem,” Akiro noted.
She further explained the challenges faced by residents in accessing healthcare services, with many having to travel long distances to the nearest health facility.
The construction of the new health center would drastically reduce this distance and improve the overall health outcomes for the local population.
“When there is a facility like this one in the community, it helps people a lot in terms of getting health because when the facility is near, you don’t have to go far to look for treatment,” Akiro added.
Emmanuel Ekiru, a former Amoru Councillor, also voiced his support for the project, urging all political leaders to put aside partisan differences and focus on the development of the community.
“Let’s unite our hands, starting from the lower council, and let’s unite with our top leadership to see that we develop this land,” Ekiru said.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration in ensuring that the health center project succeeds and delivers lasting benefits to the community.
Kairu Robert, the Soroti City Engineer, outlined the role of the technical team in providing the necessary guidance and oversight throughout the construction process.
“Our role as technical people is to give guidance when we are doing a development. It has stages, and we want to see that there is control, there is compliance. That’s why we are here. We have a document that is going to guide us,” Kairu explained.
Despite the challenges involved in the development of the new health center, Kairu expressed confidence in the project’s successful implementation.
He assured the community and local leaders that the technical team would offer the necessary support and ensure that the construction adheres to all required standards.
During the same council sitting, it was revealed that Soroti City West Division does not have a Health Centre IV, which is mandated for every constituency.
As part of the solution, the council has identified land in Agora, next to a secondary school, for the construction of a Health Centre IV.
This move is part of the city’s long-term strategy to enhance healthcare access for all residents.
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