Eastern Equatoria State officials have objected to the upgrading of the Riwoto and Magwi primary health care centers (PHCC) to county hospitals, citing lack of consultation.
The National Ministry of Health last Wednesday upgraded the two centers in a decree that also raised the status of 27 other PHCCs to hospitals across the county.
The Eastern Equatoria State Health officials said they would have preferred the upgrading of Ikotos and Torit PHCCs instead.
They expressed hope that the National Ministry of Health would upgrade the Ikotos facility and ensure the establishment of the Torit County PHCC.
Ikotos County Director of Health Lope Iswangai said the upgrading did not follow the right criteria.
He said the county health authorities had submitted their complaints to the area MPs to question the state and national governments for sidelining the Ikotos PHCC
This upgrading comes from Parliament and we are going to present our complaints to them to escalate, he said.
Upgrading Ikotos PHCC should have been the priority if we were to follow the right criteria. Our MPs have heard it and us and it should be their duty to escalate the matter when Parliament reopens, he added.
The State Ministry of Health Director General, Dr Ethin Concord, told radio Tamazuj last Friday that Magwi and Riwoto PHCC were upgraded on May 29, alongside similar institutions.
He added that Kuron PHCC was also upgraded to a center that would support women in labor.
Kapoeta North County Commissioner David Naye welcomed the upgrade and thanked the National Government, saying the initiative would reduce referrals cases.
He appealed to the national and the state governments to employ experts and deliver equipment and supplies to the upgraded hospitals.