Belameling Health Center II: where health service delivery now outsteps the facility’s rank

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By Beatrice Ociru

The construction of the Outpatient Department and Maternity Ward by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) through the World Bank funded, Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project(DRDIP) has improved access to health care services at Belameling Health center II in Obongi district. This Health Centre serves an estimated population of 20,224 people both refugees and host communities.

The temporary structure before DRDIP intervened

George Ogama, the in charge of Belameling says patients used to take long to recover due to high temperatures and disruption from leaking roofs which made the patients uncomfortable.

 “It was very difficult to admit this big population in the temporary structures which were very small and hot making patients’ temperatures higher than the normal, hence delayed recovery” Ogama confesses.

The DRDIP constructed maternity ward came in with water installations that now helps mothers clean up after delivery thus, providing privacy for the mothers unlike other facilities with birth rooms outside which is risky in case of night deliveries.

The new general ward put up by DRDIP

Gire Rose an expectant mother at the facility expressed her joy for the project, “words alone can’t express my appreciation to DRDIP for putting such structures for us here”. She adds that rain used to disrupt them sometimes, they would be drenched since they couldn’t go away. Gire says she will never give birth at home since all what is needed are now in place and the midwives are friendly and happy to work in such modern structures.

Dominic Lomurechu the acting District Health Officer, notes that, DRDIP has improved quality of care due to available space for both examination and admission.  “Staff have been motivated to provide quality services to the patients due to the apparent conducive environment”.  Lomurechu adds that the community have improved early health seeking behavior which will in turn improve on the health care indicators in the facility and for Obongi district in general.

Monthly reports indicate that over 4,000 patients visit Belameling Health center and there are up to 34 deliveries attained within the same timeline, -a huge volume for a health Centre II to handle.

The enhanced infrastructural capacity through DRDIP has amplified demand for health care services, making the facility to operate on a scale of a health center III. Belameling services includes; Outpatient Department, Antinatal Care, Deliveries/Maternity, Laboratory services, Immunization, Health Education, Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, TB screening and treatment, Mental Health etc. 

Beatrice Ociru is the District Communications Officer, Obongi district.

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