Amuru district leaders ask health ministry for cold room

Amuru, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Amuru district leaders have asked the government to establish a cold room to preserve bodies.

Michael Lakony, the Amuru LCV chairperson says they regularly receive bodies of Ugandans either killed or those who died from natural causes in South Sudan through Elegu border point yet they have no cold room to preserve their bodies.

Lakony says there is a need to have a modern cold room in the district to preserve the bodies of such persons as their relatives are being traced. He said that the Ministry of Health should construct a modern mortuary and cold room at Atiak health centre IV in Attiak town council.

Lakony notes that sometimes bodies of Ugandans are brought from South Sudan decomposed.

The district chairperson made the request on Wednesday during the handover of the newly refurbished Bibia health centre III in Elegu town council which was funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

At the same event, Lakony re-echoed concerns on the acute shortage of health services due to the maintained closure of Apaa health centre II due to violent land conflicts.

The facility was closed down about four years ago at the height of conflicts over the Apaa land disputed by both the Amuru and Adjumani district local governments and residents.

According to Lakony, other areas without enhanced health services include Kilak South which has no health center IV, while Pabbo, Attiak, Guru, Layima and Lakang sub-counties have no health center IIIs  and rely on health centre IIs.

Dr. Joseph Okware, the Director of Health Services who represented Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said the government will address concerns raised by the leaders.

The refurbishment of Bibia Health Center III facility which commenced in October last year was funded to a tune of 727 Million shillings.

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