The new leadership of Kapelebyong District faces an uphill task to change the face of the new district. The district has major challenges in health service delivery, education and road infrastructure.
In health, there are only two health centre IIs located in the old sub-counties. There is also no single health centre in the sub-counties of Acinga, Akoromit and Alito forcing patients to travel long distances to access health services.
Margaret Welakira, the acting district health officer Kapelebyong says they lose up to 10 babies every quarter as mothers in labour delay access to the health facilities. She explains that whereas government recommends expectant mothers for eight antenatal visits before delivery, the majority of the women in Kapelebyong don’t exceed four visits.
Welakira notes that much as they have controlled maternal mortality, perinatal deaths are raising a big concern.
In education, most of the schools have dilapidated structures with very low staffing levels.
Kapelebyong has a staffing gap of 300 teachers and more than 10 parishes don’t have any primary school.
Samson Olaki Okare, the acting district education officer says that most of the teachers lack accommodation at school.
Most roads in the district are also currently impassable following heavy rains experienced in the recent weeks.
Aloysius Malinga, a resident of Aturai Village in Kapelebyong Sub County says that two people died as they attempted to cross Okere Bridge.
Francis Akorikin, the District LCV Chairperson wants the central government to have special consideration for Kapelebyong district. Akorikin notes that local government annual budgets cannot help the district address most of the challenges it is facing.
Kapelebyong, which was carved out of Amuria in 2018, lacks a District Service Commission, Public Accounts Committee, and District Land Board since the interim leadership had no powers to appoint them.
The district operates with a staffing level below 40 per cent and all heads of departments are in acting positions.
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