Calls by Apaa Village Health Team (VHT) for the re-opening of Apaa Health Centre II

By Alfred Odoch

Apaa Village Health Team (VHT) is demanding for the re-opening of Apaa Health Center II. In a meeting held on 28 March 2023 at the district headquarters, the VHTs headed by their supervisor said they have so far lost more than 37 lives after the government ordered withdrawal of staff from Apaa Health center II in 2018, up to date there has been no health service delivery in Apaa. They displayed their demands on placards which some were held by their children with writings "health is my right..., Apaa is in Amuru Not Adjumani.....We want our Health center Back."

VHT members and some community members holding manila cards with their written messages.

Speaking to The Leaders present Mrs. Alanyo Stella said she nearly died during her labor because Apaa Health Center II was already closed, she said, "I delivered by the roadside on my way to Pabbo Health Center III that is far, about 70 km away.'' She delivered without the help of a qualified midwife. She added that she survived by the mercy of God, as she spoke with tears streaming down her face, she continued that in Apaa their lives are in the hands of God as even their children are not getting vaccinated and they are living like animals.

She added that since the drug stock out and the closure of the health center more than 37 deaths have been recorded by the local authorities, and most of the deaths are caused by malaria that is a treatable disease so long drugs are available.

Apaa health center was closed, the staff removed from Apaa and drugs moved to Amuru District Headquarters under instruction from the (CAO) Chief Administration Officer at Amuru. Since then there has been no health service delivery available for members of the Apaa community which has affected lives of many children, mothers and elderly people who are unable to walk distances as long as 40 kilometres.

Mrs. Alanyo Stella narrating how she delivered by the roadside

In response to the community members who visited the district headquarters, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner said that Apaa is still an area with a lot of chaos and that they are still waiting to hear back from the president as he earlier communicated with the Apaa community about the 'Judicial commission of inquiry.' He stated that he sympathizes with the people of Apaa and feels the pain Apaa People are going through but exhorted them to maintain respect and act only according to the instructions and directives they are given.

She said that she was willing to send drugs to Apaa even as early as Monday the 3rd of April 2023 only if the people agreed for the drugs to be sent to another place nearby and not in the hotbed areas.

It has been long since the government sent a team of health workers to Apaa since the closure of the health center in 2018 despite the fact that local government collects revenue in the markets and other business sites in the area. Apaa is a place with a population of over 40 000 people and yet there is not even a single school in the entire area and further still it has no health service delivery, making Apaa a ticking time bomb.