Amai hospital theater groundbreaking sparks funding accountability debate

27 March 2025, 8:51 am

By Sarah Ejang

In a significant event for the community, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a theater at Amai Hospital on March 26, 2025, nearly missed the presence of Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Okello Odoki Rwotlonyo.

The RDC’s delay stemmed from his pressing need for clarification regarding the allocation of 400 million shillings, which had been lobbied for by the Woman Member of Parliament for the hospital.

He raised concerns about why the funds were divided into two parts, questioning the delay in disbursing the money intended for this crucial project.

District Chairperson Geoffrey Ocen Kiring stepped in to address the RDC’s concerns, explaining that upon receiving the funds, the district council approved the division of resources, allocating 200 million shillings to Amai Hospital and 200 million to Amolatar Health Centre IV.

RDC Rwotlonyo expressed apprehension over the potential diversion of funds meant for specific sectors, emphasising that accountability would ultimately rest on district officials should any misallocation occur. His caution highlighted the critical importance of protecting funds designated for healthcare improvements.

During the ceremony, the RDC extended his gratitude to Professor Dr. Washington Odur Ongebo, the owner of Amai Community Hospital, for his unwavering commitment to enhancing healthcare services that benefit the people of Amolatar and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Dr. Agness Atim Apea, the area Woman MP, voiced her concerns regarding the implementation of the project. She urged district officials to ensure that the funds are properly utilised once disbursed, expressing frustration over the difficulties of repeatedly securing financial support for the same project.

Dr. Apea highlighted the broader issue of stalled projects caused by the misallocation of resources, noting that the heart unit theater and children’s wards at Amolatar Health Centre IV remain incomplete despite her efforts.

She reiterated that the 400 million shillings for the heart unit theater and the additional 200 million shillings for children’s wards came as a conditional grant from the Ministry of Finance, directly allocated to the Amolatar District Local Government.

Dr. Apea proudly announced that, with the support of Professor Washington Odur Ongebo, Amai Hospital is now providing vital care to cancer patients, with plans underway to establish a specialised cancer institute. She praised the hospital’s staff, acknowledging their role in making Amai the leading facility in the Lango subregion and ranking 21st in the entire country.

She also expressed appreciation to the NRM government for contributing over 400 million shillings to support the hospital’s development efforts.

Professor Washington Odur Ongebo, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Amai Community Hospital, had a message read on his behalf by Dr. Oluru, urging the residents of Amolatar to safeguard Amai Hospital and ensure that resources allocated for its development are preserved.

He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting patients and announced plans for the construction of a new cancer institute, emphasising that cancer patients currently receive treatment at home.

The Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Amolatar, Geoffrey Vuciri, stated that the initial phase of construction would cost 189,968,200 shillings and called upon the contractor, Bygon, to complete the project within three months.

Contractor Ogwang Emmanuel, representing Bygon Company, assured attendees that the work would be completed as scheduled.

In closing, LC1 Etoptu Simon of Amai commended the hospital staff for their dedication and excellent patient care.

He called upon politicians and district officials to ensure that resources designated for Amai are not misappropriated, reinforcing the community’s collective responsibility toward their healthcare facilities.

This groundbreaking ceremony marked an important step forward for Amai Hospital and the community’s healthcare aspirations, with leaders emphasising accountability, collaboration, and the promise of improved health services.