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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU AND GOODLUCK MUSINGUZI
SATURDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2025
A Covid19 era project that was shifted 3km inland to Vurra health center III has turned into a blessing in disguise for Vurra sub county and the adjusted border community in Aru, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The border post comprising a staff house, a waiting shed and screening rooms was earmarked to be constructed at the Vurra customs border post to stamp out cross-border transmission of the deadly Covid19 pandemic but the project was blighted by lack of land for construction from the onset.
After months of delay, it was eventually shifted to Vurra Health Center three.
Although the contractor has left the site without completion of works, the buildings have been put to use without official commissioning.
A storied staff house is providing accommodation to four health center staff, the waiting shed is now used by patients and their attendants as a reception and rest area while what was supposed to be a block for screening and treating Covid Patients is now used for immunisation of children as well as outpatient’s unit.
“It has reduced the burden on us and is a relief because the health centre buildings are dilapidated and in need of reconstruction,” said Joel Pariyo, the Vurra sub county LC3 chairman.
What was not well done was the wiring and installation of solar system to light the rooms but the contractor, Doxa Engineering LTD, has refused to come and complete the project.
With reduced burden of lack of space which previously led to congestion at the health center, Pariyo called on the health workers to improve their work rate and serve the people with diligence.
And that service with diligence was the concern of many health service users in Vurra during an interview on the Independence Day celebrations for 2025.
Charity Candiru, a resident of Oviconi town board complained of late opening of the facility, an indication that most of them stay away from the health center. There are 17 staff at Vurra health center III including non-medical support staff.
Candiru also urged the health workers to keep their own stress off matters of duty and serve the people with dignity.
She regrated that some nursing officers are harsh with patients which puts off people from interacting with them.
She also observed that whereas the nurses report late, they also go back home early, leaving the burden of work on few staff.
Emilly Ajidiru, another resident of Vurra observed that the number of medical workers is disproportionate to the patients who go to Vurra health center II.
“Some times you find one nurse registers patients and prescribes medicines, especially in the children’s section. After that the same person begins dispensing medication. Then thereafter turns to the women who go for antenatal care,” she narrated of the scenario the medics at Viurra health III go through.
She said that routine translates into wastage of time in that an expectant mother who arrives at the facility as early as 9:00 am may leave as late as 4:00Pm because the priority is given to sick children and those taken for routine immunisation.
And being close to the border, Congolese also come in big numbers to receive health services there.
On account of these experiences, the residents have called for establishment of more staff houses, rehabilitation and expansion of the health unit and posting of more nursing staff to improve services at Virra health center III.
