MP Adum pledges support for education and health services in Chua West

Kitgum | The Member of Parliament for Chua West Constituency in Kitgum district, Oryema Simon Peter Adum, has pledged a series of interventions to improve education and healthcare services in the constituency following separate visits to Labongo Amida Seed Secondary School and Loborom Health Centre III.

During a visit to Labongo Amida Seed Secondary School in Labongo Amida sub-county, the legislator donated sanitary pads to female students in a bid to promote menstrual hygiene and support girls to remain in school.

The donation followed concerns raised by students over the lack of a proper dressing and changing room at the school.

While interacting with the MP, a Senior Three student, Aber Gifty, said many girls face difficulties during menstruation due to the absence of adequate facilities, a situation that affects their comfort, dignity, and concentration in class.

In response, Adum donated sanitary pads to all female students and pledged to support the construction of a dressing and changing room to improve menstrual hygiene management and provide privacy for girls.

“Supporting girls’ education requires addressing the challenges that affect their attendance and participation in school activities,” Adum said.

The legislator also pledged to engage district authorities on the possibility of extending electricity to the school after students and administrators raised concerns over the lack of power, which has affected Information and Communication Technology (ICT) lessons and practical computer studies.

He further encouraged school leaders to take advantage of opportunities under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV) to improve infrastructure, including the construction of a main hall, reading room, science laboratory, and additional classroom blocks.

To strengthen the school feeding program, Adum donated 100 kilograms of beans and 200 kilograms of maize flour to support learners.

Addressing students, he urged them to remain focused on their studies despite the challenges they face.

“Education may be difficult today, but the struggles you endure now will become the foundation of your success tomorrow. Stay disciplined, work hard, and never give up on your dreams,” he said.

In a separate visit to Loborom Health Centre III in Labongo Layamo sub-county, the MP highlighted critical staffing, infrastructure, and security gaps affecting health service delivery.

The facility, which is expected to operate with 34 health workers, currently has only 13 staff members, according to health officials. Adum said the staffing deficit continues to strain service delivery and affects timely access to healthcare services.

He also identified infrastructure challenges, including deteriorating ward facilities and damaged shelving boards, and pledged to support renovation works and reconstruction of the general ward block.

Colline Mwaka Cox, the facility in-charge informed the MP that the health centre lacks a children’s ward as well as separate wards for male and female patients, affecting patient privacy and proper categorization of care.

The legislator further expressed concern over increasing insecurity around the facility, with local leaders reporting more than 50 criminal incidents monthly, largely involving unemployed youth.

Residents also raised concerns about safety along bushy access roads frequently used by students of nearby Labongo Layamo Secondary School.

To improve security, Adum pledged to support the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the health facility and called upon community members to clear overgrown vegetation along access routes to enhance visibility and safety.

He also committed to providing window curtains for the wards to improve privacy and comfort for patients. Adum said improving healthcare and education requires both infrastructure development and collective community effort.

Health workers and school administrators welcomed the legislator’s interventions, expressing optimism that the pledged support would improve learning conditions, strengthen health service delivery, and enhance the well-being of residents in Chua West Constituency.