The Ministry of Health had earlier on requested for two acres of land for the establishment of a laboratory that would be upgraded to a Health Centre III to serve the population in Elegu and
the surrounding areas.
Amuru district local government has allocated three acres of land
for the establishment of a medical laboratory in Elegu. The land was carved
out of over 250 acres of government land.
The Ministry of Health had earlier on requested for two acres
of land for the establishment of a laboratory that would be upgraded to a Health Centre III to serve the population in Elegu and
the surrounding areas.
Amuru district chairperson Michael Lakony says that the contract for the construction of the laboratory
has been awarded and work is expected to start soon. He says they have on several occasions called on the ministry
to establish a health facility to treat thousands of people at the border town.
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Dr Patrick Odong Olwedo, Amuru district health officer says that upon completion, the facility will bridge the gap which
existed for the people in the town council due to the lack of a government health
unit. He says they currently refer lab examinations to Atiak
health centre IV, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, St Mary`s hospital Lacor and
in Kampala.
According to Olwedo, the development is timely especially
because the town council is struggling to manage cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that are entering through Elegu border post.
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John Bosco Ocan, a resident of Elegu town council says several
private health facilities had cropped up and were charging people exorbitantly.
He says hopefully this will change if a medical lab is set up in the area.
Michael Ojok is a multi-channel reporter based in Gulu district (Northern Uganda). He is interested in humanitarian stories, culture, conflict, peace, environment, health and education.
Michael Ojok
Freelancer