Palabek, Lamwo District, UGANDA- “Before we had this additional staff, the maternity section could barely function. Now, we can operate around the clock without overwhelming our team. The addition of this midwife has proven to be a game-changer, not just alleviating pressure on the staff but ensuring that mothers and newborns receive timely, high-quality care when they need it most.”
These were the words of Dr. Patrick Kijumi, the in-charge Palabek Kal Health Centre IV, Lamwo district, the sole facility offering surgical services and comprehensive emergency obstetric care within a county of over 100,000 people, including 85,500 refugees. This health centre also serves as a primary healthcare provider for 12,064 people within the district’s total population of 213,156.
Initially established as a Health Center III (HCIII), the facility struggled with capacity challenges, including shortage of staff, inadequate equipment and infrastructure limitations. However today, it stands as one of the highest levels of care in a district lacking a general hospital.
To ensure rights and choices for all, UNFPA continues to support health system strengthening in Uganda to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes, particularly in marginalized and vulnerable populations. With donor support and partnerships, UNFPA has transformed Palabek Kal HCIV into a fully functional CEmONC site, offering life-saving maternal health care to vulnerable communities.
The first step in a journey of a million miles for Palabek-Kal HCIV: Doctors perform the maiden life-saving procedure, made possible by UNFPA’s support and other partners. PHOTO: Dr. Bayfa Arwinyo
A pivotal moment came in 2024 with funding from Japan’s Delivering Life-saving Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Interventions in Emergency (DELISiE) project, enabling the recruitment of an additional midwife. This single addition has eased the immense strain on the existing staff and allowed the health centre to provide continuous, 24/7 maternity care.
“For the women and families in Palabek, these improvements have been nothing short of life-saving;
The operationalization of the theatre has significantly reduced the need to send mothers with complications to Kitgum General Hospital. This means quicker, safer care for our patients," emphasized Dr Kijumi.
Born from the urgent need to improve sexual and reproductive healthcare in one of Uganda's most underserved regions, where refugees and host communities alike have long struggled to access quality SRHR/GBV services, these vital additions have allowed the health facility to offer emergency obstetric care that was once out of reach for many. A new ambulance now ensures patients can be swiftly and safely transported, reducing the time and anxiety of long journeys to distant hospitals.
UNFPA’s support through the Japan Supplementary Budget (2021/22) project marked the first step in operationalizing the theatre with provision of a critical essential theatre equipment and supplies, covering 90% of the needs, and a brand-new Class 2 ambulance vehicle. These steps were critical in scaling up efforts by the district and the Ministry of Health to upgrade Palabek Kal HCIII to an HCIV and operationalizing the theatre.
Lifesaving on wheels: A brand-new ambulance, which was procured with funding from the Government of Japan through UNFPA, now serves Palabek Kal HCIV, ensuring swift and safe transport for patients in need. PHOTO: UNFPA/Cinderella Anena
Further support from programmes such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the Humanitarian Emergency Fund, the Netherlands-supported ANSWER Programme, and the Danish-funded Strengthening Adolescent, Youth (SAY) Rights and Empowerment Programme has equipment the facility with vital maternal and child health equipment, ensuring that health workers have the tools they need to deliver quality care. Continuous essential in-service training and mentorship of health workers has been maintained, strengthening their ability to provide life-saving Emergency Obstetric Care and gender-sensitive services. Vulnerable women, including those who have faced sexual violence, have been provided with dignity kits, offering them a sense of respect and care during one of the most challenging times of their lives. These efforts are not just improving services, they are transforming lives—one woman, one child and one community at a time.
These changes represent the power of collaboration, compassion and a community coming together to protect the lives of its most vulnerable. Today, Palabek Kal HCIV remains a beacon of hope for mothers, babies and families in Palabek and beyond.
Written by Immaculate Nalikka with contributions from Cinderella Anena and Wilberforce Mugwanya (UNFPA Uganda), Dr. Patrick Kijumi, facility in-charge, Dr. Denish Ochula, DHO (Lamwo district) and Dr. Bayfa Arwinyo, Consultant Obs/ Gyn (Gulu Regional Referral Hospital)
