OBERABIC
Visit on September 5th
As Good as it Gets

Oh my goodness. Talk about being overwhelmed! First working day in Gulu on my September 2016 visit and wham we were off on a support supervision visit to Oberabic Health Centre.

Oberabic is one of ten health units run by the Diocese of Northern Uganda but is the main focus of Gulu Connection. The unit is in a very poor and rural  area.  A year or so ago Christopher was appointed and has proved to be great in charge supported by Midwife, Gloria and nurse assistant Moses. A further nurse assistant has been appointed recently.

The team was well praised by Nick for the accuracy of their prescribing. I was moved by their commitment each week going on outreach to a very needy area even though they get go extra finance for this.

 

Health Unit and visiting team.

 

The Support of Gulu Connection has made a big difference and has provided for:

• All their medicines,
• Money for a nurse assistant,
• Refrigerator(s) which means vaccines can be stored on the premises,
• Solar electricity,
• Motorbike
• Refurbishment of the staff accommodation (still wholly inadequate)
• Money for a family planning incentive scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is very little health provision  in the area. About 4 years ago I got to know a resident of Apaa, a community some 15 miles distance from the unit and now looking to Oberabic health centre for consistent  care and when talking about things he dropped out the sentence, "when our people get ill, they die." It was so matter of fact.

  

Oberabic Heath centre has a good building erected by the USA NGO MAP. MAP also used to provide finance but their generosity was not backed by good management and it was a very poor unit with dreadful staff attendance. Staff have worked hard over the last three years but the going has been tough but now with the new team and added finance,  there is real momentum.

There is much more to do. We are building a washroom and latrine block and started building a two roomed maternity unit (See blog December 2016) assisted by two generous donations by doctors. We are looking for £5000 to complete this life saving addition to the work at Oberabic.

Pete