A New Beginning: Awere Health Center IV Gets a Lifeline with a New Borehole

Awere, Uganda, is home to a single health facility—Awere Health Center IV. When Drop in the Bucket first visited Awere it was known as Awere health center II. this was because it had no clean water and was not rated as a safe place to have a maternity ward. Since then, it has been upgraded to a level IV health center and it now has a ward specifically for children suffering from nodding disease.

The health center had long faced a critical challenge: the lack of a reliable water source. Awere Health Center IV serves over fifty expectant mothers each month. Without a dependable water supply, essential areas like the maternity ward and laboratory struggled to operate until now.

The Water Crisis at Awere Health Center IV

Ojok Isaac, the Nursing Officer at Awere HC IV

Ojok Isaac, the Nursing Officer, explains the situation: “Despite the many babies we deliver here, we didn’t have a reliable water source. Maternity wards and laboratories require water at all times,” he shares. At one point, the sub-county did have a well, but it was broken for years, leaving the health center without a dependable water supply.

This forced staff to walk to a well near the police station. While it was close, it was unreliable. “Nobody takes care of the well, so the pump tends to break down. When it does, we have to walk much farther to fetch water,” explains Mr. Ojok. The lack of a consistent water supply created a constant challenge for the health center’s daily operations.

Challenges at the Maternity Ward

On a bright afternoon, we visit the maternity ward at Awere Health Center IV. Pregnant women and new mothers, along with their babies, are being cared for. Apio Robina, a nursing assistant, explains the struggles: “We deliver 40-50 babies each month, but our work wasn’t safe or clean without water,” she says.

With only one bed for deliveries, keeping it clean was a challenge. Often, family members were sent to fetch water across the road during the delivery process.

A Mother’s Perspective

Akech Sarah, 29, delivered her daughter at Awere in March 2020. She remembers the struggles her grandmother faced when Sarah went into labor. “My grandmother had to fetch water from the police station across the road,” Sarah recalls. The lack of nearby water added unnecessary stress during an already intense time.

Hope for the Future at Awere Health Center IV

Hope came to Awere Health Center IV when Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at the facility. Drop in the Bucket partnered with local authorities, including the Pader sub-county, to make this possible. Ojok Isaac is thrilled about the new well and proudly introduces us to the security guard responsible for maintaining the hand pump.

The well is surrounded by a fence with a single entrance and exit. With this new borehole, Awere Health Center IV is on the path to positive change. The long treks for water and struggles with cleanliness in the maternity ward are now over. The community, especially mothers who rely on the center, are breathing a sigh of relief.

Awere, located in Pader, Uganda, is a vastly different place than when we first visited. There is a renewed sense of optimism in the air. The new well represents more than just a water source; it symbolizes a renewed commitment to the health and well-being of the community. Awere Health Center IV is now a place where mothers can safely deliver their babies in a hygienic environment. The hardworking staff are elated by the transformation.