Residents of Kinyamugara Parish in Kicheche Sub-county, Kitagwenda District, are calling on the government to urgently operationalize a health facility in the area to ease access to medical services.
Residents say they are forced to travel more than 15 kilometres to reach the nearest health centre in Buryansumgwe, a privately owned facility that serves communities from a wide area.
The long distance has made access to healthcare particularly difficult for vulnerable residents, including people who cannot afford transport to the health centre.
Residents say the situation becomes even more challenging when patients require urgent medical attention, as some are forced to walk long distances or depend on relatives and other community members to find means of transport.
The female councillor representing Kicheche Sub-county, Everlyne Kanyesigye, says the lack of an operational public health facility in Kinyamugara has left many residents struggling to access basic healthcare.
Kanyesigye says the area already has a health facility structure, but the building remains non-operational, despite the growing need for healthcare services in the community.
According to the councillor, putting the facility into operation would significantly reduce the distance residents currently travel and improve access to essential medical services.
“The facility structure is already there, but it is not operational. Our people are travelling long distances to access healthcare, and those who cannot afford transport are the most affected,” Kanyesigye says.
Residents argue that operationalizing the facility would not only bring healthcare services closer to the community but would also help reduce delays in seeking treatment.
They say the current situation can discourage people from seeking medical attention, particularly for illnesses that require early diagnosis and treatment.
The residents are therefore urging the government and relevant health authorities to equip and staff the existing facility so that it can begin serving the community.
They say priority should be given to basic services such as outpatient care, maternal and child health services, immunisation and treatment of common illnesses.
The call comes amid continued concerns in rural communities over the distance people have to cover to access public health services.
For residents of Kinyamugara, operationalizing the existing health facility would bring healthcare services closer to their homes and spare them the cost and difficulty of travelling more than 15 kilometres for treatment.
Residents are now appealing to the district and central government authorities to intervene and ensure that the facility is equipped, staffed and opened to the public.