By Our Reporter 

Amuria District - Health workers at Orungo Health Centre III in Orungo Sub-county, Amuria District, are enduring harsh living conditions as they attend to an overwhelming number of patients on a daily basis.

Despite being a critical facility serving a large catchment area, Orungo HCIII lacks adequate accommodation for its medical staff. Many of the workers are forced to sleep in dilapidated structures on the premises, while others rent modest rooms in Orungo town due to a lack of on-site housing.

“The available accommodation is only meant for the In-charge. The rest of us either squeeze into old, crumbling buildings or find shelter in town,” a health worker shared under anonymity.

The situation has sparked growing concern among staff, who say their wellbeing and safety are increasingly at risk. The lack of designated staff latrines has further compounded the problem, with workers having to share facilities that are far from their temporary living quarters.

Security concerns have also been raised. Simon Ebulu, the security officer at the facility, is calling for urgent intervention. “This facility needs a perimeter fence and proper staff quarters. We are exposed, and this affects how well we can serve the community,” he said.

Dr. Stephen Echeru, the In-charge of Orungo HCIII, confirmed that the facility is battling numerous challenges, including housing, drug shortages, staffing gaps, and sanitation issues. He noted that on average, the facility attends to over 150 patients daily.

“We are committed to serving our people, but we are sometimes forced to prescribe drugs due to stockouts. We have already raised our concerns with the Amuria District Local Government,” Dr. Echeru said.

In a phone interview, Godfrey Opolot, the Acting District Health Officer of Amuria, acknowledged the facility’s struggles. He revealed that staffing levels at Health Centre IIIs across the district are at only 25%—well below the national target.

“The challenges at Orungo are not unique. Many HCIIIs in Amuria are under strain. We’ve submitted requests to the Ministry of Health to upgrade some HCIIIs, including Orungo, and improve infrastructure like staff housing,” Opolot said.

As the patient load continues to grow, health workers remain hopeful that district and national leaders will prioritize their welfare, which they say is essential for improved health service delivery.