Upgrade of Pamaka Health Centre 11 to 111 under Ugift in Nebbi district local government.

Abstract

Post graduate students of Makerere University pursuing Diploma in Construction Project Management are required to be involved in the execution of projects to put into practice theoretical knowledge acquired at School during training. In fulfillment of the requirement, I participated in the construction of a General Maternity Ward during the upgrade of Pamaka HC II to III in Nebbi District as a Contract Manager. The scope of the project included construction of a general maternity ward measuring 381.87m2 in area consisting of a delivery/labour suite and accessories, postnatal ward, female ward and pediatric ward. In addition to the general maternity ward, a placenta pit, four bath rooms and four stance VIP latrine were also built. Nebbi District Local Government has a population of 245,167 people distributed over eight sub-counties of which 52.1% are female and 47.9% male. Pamaka Health Centre II is located in Ndhew Sub-county with a total population of 25,897 people of which 53.1% are female and 46.9% are male. The sub county has two health centre II and no health centre II or IV and the nearest hospital and health centre III is located 20km and 10km away respectively making it difficult for the local population to access health services provided at health centre III or Hospital. This is made worse by the poor road network and poor means of public transport thus leading to avoidable loss of life. According to the Uganda Health policy, every sub-county must have a fully functional health centre III offering both outpatient and inpatient service to the local population in addition to the health centre II located at every parish level offering outpatient services only. In order to address the problem, Nebbi District Local Government together with Ministry of Helth, Uganda planned for the upgrade of Pamaka Health Centre II to health centre III by constructing a general maternity ward to offer inpatient services to the expecting mothers and their children and also a male inpatient ward.