A few days ago, in the Terengo district of the West Nile region in Uganda, two fully renovated facilities, supported by CUAMM, were officially inaugurated and handed over to the district health authorities: a multipurpose microbiology and biochemistry laboratory, with a blood collection center at the Yinga Health Center (HC), and an inpatient ward at the Udupi Health Center.
Yinga is a referral health facility located in the Imvepi refugee camp, serving a population of approximately 20,000 people, comprising both refugees and host communities. “There was a need to renovate the laboratory and create sufficient space for blood collection and storage,” says Joseph Katetemera, Cuamm technical consultant in West Nile. “Previously, patients were forced to travel to Arua Hospital, about 70 km away, to receive a blood transfusion. The facility has been transformed into a state-of-the-art unit, with high-quality finishes and a temperature control system suitable for its intended purpose.”
The Udupi III health center, with a catchment population of approximately 15,000 people, has long had only one ward for men and women, without any privacy for patients. Moreover, the ward was in a poor structural condition, endangering staff and patients within it. With the renovation, the total number of beds has become 32, making it the largest ward in the Terego district.
The handover of these rehabilitated facilities officially marks the conclusion of “Inclusive emergency initiative to strengthen health services and hygiene practices in refugee and host communities in West Nile, Uganda” a project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by CUAMM in collaboration with CBM International and the local NGO Community Empowerment for Rural Development (Ceford).
Launched in September 2023, the project involved both the refugee and host populations in the area, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of health and hygiene services, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable categories, women, children, and people with disabilities.
An integrated intervention at multiple levels: 14,585 people reached and involved through outreach and awareness-raising activities, in particular 5,676 with targeted messages on safe water use and the importance of good hygiene practices.
To promote and improve the inclusivity and equity of services, 140 latrines were built for people with disabilities, and 800 menstrual hygiene kits were provided to women and girls with special needs, consisting of reusable sanitary pads, underwear, and a towel, as well as laundry soap, hand soap, and two 20-liter water jerrycans.
This commitment was made possible thanks to the 277 trained community health workers, including in the areas of psychosocial and mental health. 307 patients with mental health problems were supported.
In the area of maternal and child health, 2,777 women were able to access assisted childbirth, and 92 emergency transfers for obstetric complications were referred from a distance of between 40 and 70 km. Constant support was provided to paediatric vaccination services to ensure prevention and protection from preventable diseases. In addition, antimalarial treatment with artesunate contributed to the reduction of malaria-related mortality, from 0.4% to 0.08%.
Support for orthopaedic services was also significant, allowing the treatment of 1,357 patients, including Emmanuela, a child born with congenital clubfoot, a malformation that, if neglected, can cause disability, difficulty walking, as well as the risk of stigmatization. Referred to the health center in the Ivempi camp, supported by the project, she was examined and, after a series of specific maneuvers, a weekly cast was applied for four weeks, followed by surgery and the application of a brace.
“I am very grateful to Cuamm for bringing services closer to our community, because I would never have been able to get to Arua every week for treatment. My daughter has been saved from a permanent disability and will now grow up like other children. I hope that the services will continue and be strengthened, so that more people can benefit and receive help,” said Beatrice, Emmanuela’s mother.
Promoting access to health and social equity remains at the heart of Doctors with Africa CUAMM’s commitment in Uganda and in all the countries where it operates. We aim to do so with a systemic and integrated approach, not only focused on individuals but aimed at strengthening health systems from within, thanks to close collaboration with local institutions.
