Atiak Health Centre’s theatre, maternity wings go two weeks without electricity

Amuru, (UG):- Medical workers at Atiak Health Centre IV in northern Uganda’s Amuru District are in a dilemma as a prolonged power blackout has rendered the theatre and maternity department dysfunctional for close to two weeks.

Dr. Angelo Oceng, the medical in charge, Atiak Health Center, works in the theatre and maternity has stalled since early last week. The facility is estimated to serve over 20,000 people across Amuru district.

“It is coming to two weeks we are facing power blackout. It is affecting the running of our theatre and the maternity department. Although other wards, still have solar light, we cannot sterilize medical equipment with solar power,” Dr. Oceng told DailyExpress in an exclusive interview on Monday, May 27th.

The in-charge revealed that on Sunday evening two people coming from Pabbo town council and another one from Otwee Sub County were rushed with emergency conditions requiring a Cesarean section but failed to receive their immediate response due to a power blackout. The two mothers were referred to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and St. Mary’s Lacor Hospital in Gulu City.

According to Dr Oceng, the majority of their clients present an inability to finance their upkeep after being referred to the major health facilities in Gulu City and that, if power is not restored immediately, they will be left with no option but to continue referring to every emergency case that comes.

The power blackout in Atiak Town Council, which started earlier last week also affected the medical operations of eight patients, according to Dr. Oceng.

He said every Wednesday of the week, the hospital has a scheduled operation for patients who come from nearby and far-remote places in Amuru district.

Official district figures show that Atiak Health Centre IV receives between 40 and 60 expectant mothers seeking services for child delivery, with Dr. Oceng admitting that in May alone, they have so far had seven mothers who underwent cesarean sections.

This publication understands that on Wednesday, May 29th, health facility officials are expected to conduct medical operations on eight patients but this will depend on the availability of power in the theatre.

Traders counting losses due to power outage

Similarly, the business community in Ataik Town Council, reliant on electricity is also counting losses and low sales. Denis Oroma, one of the businessmen dealing in hotel and accommodation, told the DailyExpress in an interview on Tuesday 28th, that he lost hundreds of litres of fresh milk to power blackout the deep freezer 

Joan Concy Acan, 29, a seller whose livelihood solely depends on selling a local brew known as Umqombothi in Atiak Town Council has lost stock worth over UGX1,000,000 due to the power outage. Acan depends on electricity to run her refrigerators for the preservation of the alcohol.

She blames Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) for ‘stealing’ them; “Power blackouts have been frequent but this time it has taken too long. To make matters worse, every moment when we pay for power, electricity is cut off. They are cheating us. we pay for power but we don’t use it,” Acan laments, adding that she cannot afford a generator and besides fuel is very expensive.

Kenneth Okot the Chairperson Atiak Council confirmed the situation. He emphasizes that power outages are affecting service delivery to the people of Amuru district, more especially, in the health sector.

He described the situation as “alarming.”  The most hit hard are the businesses and Atiak Health Centre IV where Okot says “medics are forced to refer patients in the emergency condition that they can arrest if electricity are available”

When contacted, the Senior Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Officer of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Mr Jonan Kizza admitted that there was a fault in a transformer supplying Atiak Town Council.

“We are sorting it,” Mr Kizza told this reporter in a telephone interview.

Mr Kizza says when they received the request for a new transfer for Atiak on Friday last week, they started working round the clock to secure one from their local manufacturer.

The UEDCL is no longer importing transformers and cables from foreign countries, he said. “Right now, we (UEDCL) no longer import transformers and cables, but demand exceeds supply, and the transformer for Atiak will be up and running by tomorrow, Wednesday.”