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Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Gulu Archdiocese is seeking 500 million shillings to buy a digital x-ray machine and an ambulance to support David Fargerlee Medical Center in Adilang town council, Agago district.
David Fargerlee Medical Center was established by David Fargerlee, an American businessman from Minnesota, USA, to help the community in Agago access free medical services.
Msgr Matthew Odong, the Vicar General of Gulu Archdiocese said the Archdiocese has organized a charity walk to raise funds for the purchase of medical equipment.
Msgr Odong appealed to all well-wishers to contribute some funds towards the initiative to uphold the legacy of the late David Fargerlee, who saw the need to upgrade the health unit when it was in a sorry state.
The digital x-ray is estimated to cost 280 million shillings and a fully equipped ambulance will cost 220 million shillings.
Dr. Geoffrey Smart Okot, the CEO of Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital Kalongo, explained that the hospital requires a digital x-ray because analog x-rays have proved to have more dangers than benefits on the patients and operators.
Dr. Okot said the availability of the machine would shorten the time patients spend in the health unit, as their condition will be diagnosed faster.
Dr. Okot argued that the ambulance is very much needed because the entire district does not have a real ambulance that meets the standards set by World Health Organisation, but rather only has vehicles marked as ambulances.
Leonard Ojok, the chairperson of Agago district who is and also the mobiliser for the charity walk, said a good health facility is judged by the availability of equipment and qualified medical professionals not the size of the structures.
Ojok appealed to the communities of Agago and the surrounding districts to support the fundraising to ease and cheapen diagnosis processes for various ailments and to speed up referrals.
Florence Adong, a resident of Lalal village, Adilang town council is grateful for the medical facility, saying she used to travel 32 kilometers to get medical help at Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital Kalongo, which was expensive.
Bob Akejo, the medical health officer in-charge and radiologist at David Fagerlee Medical Center explains that the medical center was established in 2016 by Mzee Aldo Davidson Otto and it operated under a tree.
However, when the late David Fargerlee saw the condition of the health unit, he upgraded it to its current status.
Akejo added that the facility serves between 500-600 patients from Pader, Otuke, Abim, Kitgum, and Alebtong districts every month.
Margaret Amigo Adyang, the Managing Director of the medical center, said the charity walk will involve moving on the beautiful hills in Adilang, thereafter a memorial mass led by His Grace John Baptist Odama, will be held to commemorate David Fagerlee.
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