MTN Kalangala Outreach!
The maternal mortality rate in Uganda has decreased over the years; however, it seems higher in more areas than others. It all factors down to how accessible medical facilities are, if they are accessible, how equipped they are to deal with certain child birth complications that arise during the delivery process. All these factored together determine whether or not a mother makes it through those very magical hours of childbirth.
The thought of a magical moment becoming a dooms hour for someone is very heart-breaking as it is saddening.
Kalangala District highest grade hospital is a Health Centre IV. Given the state of Uganda’s Health Centre IVs the thought of having a population of over 10000people relying on a Health Centre IV. To add salt to their wound, all referrals are to Masaka Referral Hospital which is about 3hr and 25min or less depending on circumstances present. This is enough time for one’s condition to escalate to death.
When it comes to maternity, the Health Centre is not fully equipped to facilitate complicated childbirth conditions forcing the Health Centre to refer these agonised mothers to Masaka Referral hospital.
A few months ago, in August, MTN Uganda in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) refurbished the maternal ward of Kalangala Health Centre IV. The hospital previously could only accommodate 40 patients with some of the expectant mothers sleeping on the floor. This plight was recently averted, increasing that number to 60 patients.
On the 23rd August 2022, during the handover of the refurbished maternity ward, Dr.Hillary Bitakalamire, the District Health Officer revealed that mothers would no longer be referred to Masaka Referral Hospital since the has been equipped with a fully functioning ward with a facilities that can enable doctors carry out C-sections and deal with other complications that come with childbirth. He however says that there is a need for more space as the numbers are overwhelming. He is also advocating that the Health Centre be upgraded into a hospital and be equipped with a dental facility.
MTN’s head of the Commercial Department for Central Region, Partrick Tusiime, said, “We have so far used Sh.1.033b with Sh600m collected from the MTN marathon and the MTN Foundation contributing Shh433m. To refurbish the maternity ward, we have used Sh400m where over Sh200m used to buy assortments. ”
He also goes ahead to inform us that MTN has managed to refurbish five health centres by far with advice from the Ministry of Health.
According to Dr. Robert Mutumba from the Ministry of Health, The number of expectant mothers that deliver from Health facilities has increased by 70% and he attributes this to the improvement in the health system.
UNFPA assistant representative, Edwin Muhwezi, appreciates MTN and Reproductive Health Uganda for this great partnership that has sought to improve the health status of people in hard to reach areas like Kalangala District.
Rajab Ssemakula, the district chairperson, on behalf of the Kalangala District Leadership thanked and appreciated the partnership for refurbishing the maternity ward but appealed for further assistance to have the man’s ward renovated as it is in a sorry state.
For more information on this story visit link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/kalangala-health-centre-iv-maternity-ward-ren-141653