Amolatar, Uganda – Residents and schoolchildren near Etam Health Centre IV in Etam Town Council, Amolatar District, are facing a severe water crisis, with no access to clean and safe drinking water.
The situation has raised serious health concerns, with fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Suzan Acen, the Secretary for Health and Education in Etam Town Council, revealed that for over a year, the community has been relying on contaminated water.
The only available water source is a dirty pool dug by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. This dire situation has left residents vulnerable, especially schoolchildren from Otike and Etam Primary Schools, who have no alternative but to consume this unsafe water.
Acen made these revelations when Dokolo Post visited Etam Health Centre IV, only to find the facility nearly deserted, with no medical staff present and no access to clean drinking water.
The health centre has been struggling to operate, and for almost a week now, all patients have been referred to Alyecmeda, another facility miles away.
Tragically, an expectant mother lost her newborn after being referred to Alyecmeda due to the lack of functioning services at Etam Health Centre IV.
Etam Town Council Mayor Nelson Odopo confirmed the crisis, stating that the situation at the health centre deteriorated after seven staff members were transferred, leaving only four replacements.
He urged the district water engineer to urgently address the water crisis, which has been neglected for far too long.
“Our people are suffering. Schoolchildren are drinking dirty water, yet nothing has been done to solve this issue. We need urgent intervention from the district authorities,” Odopo stated.
When Dokolo Post reporters visited the contaminated water source, they found schoolchildren filling bottles with visibly dirty water.
A concerned resident, who was fetching water at the site, admitted that while most adults avoid drinking from the pool, children have no choice.
The crisis has persisted despite engineers recently visiting the area to inspect the defunct piped water system.
However, they declined to comment on their findings or provide a way forward. This has fueled frustration among residents, who feel abandoned by the authorities.
Efforts to hear from the District Health Officer (DHO) were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The worsening water and health crisis in Etam Town Council demands urgent government intervention.
Without immediate action, the area risks a devastating outbreak of diseases such as typhoid and cholera, endangering the lives of innocent children and the entire community.
