 Map:1  Map:2  Map:3  Map:4  Map:5 The ministry of health has had a program for health infrastructure construction and equipping of the health centers across the country of various grades from HC II, HC III, HC IV and Hospitals . This was in response to the recognized inadequacy of health care facilities based on geographical access. The different grades of health centers offer different levels of health services. Health centers II (HC II) are managed by nursing officers and services include; treatment of non-complicated ailments that require clinical services such as Malaria, bed rests for the some cases of patients and act as points for near-neighborhood advise on health services. HC III are managed by a Clinical Officer and services include; maternal health care, a labor ward, non-complicated surgery services and general treatment while the HC IV is managed by a qualified Doctor, has a labor ward, surgery theatre, offers general health care services besides supervising all the lower level health centers, provision of outreach programs and guidance. The Hospital on the other hand offers all health care services, can have several qualified Doctors as well as lower level health workers, manages outreach programs and serves as a regional referral for complicated ailments. These health services tier have been linked to the administrative units and levels in which management responsibility is also shared between local governments (which are districts, Subcounties or parishes) and the Central Government with the lead institution being the Ministry of Health. An implicit assumption in health service provision is that the nearer to the health facility, the more access to health services. |