Clean Water and a Lifelong Dream Realized – The Inspiring Story of the Alero Health Center III
From a young age, Awor Stella Grace dreamed of becoming a nurse. Her motivation? A personal experience with a severe injury that required extensive medical care. “I once had a nasty injury that took a long time to heal. If it hadn’t been for the medical care I received at St. Mary’s Heath Center in Lacor, I don’t know if I would have survived. That experience inspired me to become a nurse and help others,” she reminisces.
Stella’s path to realizing her dream wasn’t without challenges. “Other nursing students from my class dropped out after becoming pregnant or because they couldn’t afford the school fees,” she recalls with a hint of sadness. “The fees were a challenge for me too, but I was determined not to let the payments hold me back. Every time I saw a sick person, it inspired me to keep going.”
Starting her career at Lacor Hospital, Stella knew she wanted to broaden her horizons and gain diverse experiences. Over the years, she worked at several health centers before landing the role of Assistant Nursing Officer at Alero Health Center III. “I think the facility’s management team saw the passion I put into my work, and that was why they felt me worthy of the new position,” she proudly shares.
A Vital Need: Clean Water
However, Stella faced a significant obstacle at her new workplace—lack of access to clean water. “When faced with life-or-death situations, the first and most crucial thing you need is clean water. Without safe water, you are in real trouble,” she emphasizes. The only well available was far from the health center, causing delays and inefficiencies when fetching water. Another nearby well was in disrepair, offering muddy water or none at all.
“Our patients were given tablets to take, but there was no water to accompany them. Additionally, the health center remained dirty as there was no water to mop the floors. This was not ideal for a facility responsible for delivering healthy babies,” Stella recalls with concern.
A Race Against Time
Stella vividly remembers one particularly challenging incident: “An expectant mother arrived just about to go into labor, but we had no clean water. We checked the staff quarters next door to see if anybody had clean water, but everyone was out.” With quick thinking and teamwork, Stella and two neighbors rushed to fetch water from the well, making it back just in time for the baby’s arrival.
The COVID-19 lockdowns posed another hurdle. “In the past, we could fetch water from the community, but during the lockdown, they sent us away fearing we might be infected,” Stella explains. Without clean water, essential tasks like cleaning medical equipment and maintaining a hygienic environment became challenging, especially in the maternity ward where about 70 babies were delivered monthly.
A Turning Point: Clean Water for Alero Health Center III
Fortunately, everything changed with the installation of a new well by Drop in the Bucket. Located just steps away from the maternity ward, the well now provides safe and healthy water for the health center. “This is a real blessing. I am so happy and relieved that we finally have water. Please send my regards to the donors who funded this borehole. They have changed our lives,” Stella expresses her gratitude.
With this newfound resource, Stella’s passion for her work shines brighter than ever. “I am very happy at the health center and happy about the water. Every day, I carry on doing the work I always dreamed of doing—helping the sick, and I do it with a smile,” she concludes.