Jana Nafula
27 June 2008
Kampala — Lack of delivery beds at Rweikiniro Health Centre III in Ntungamo District has forced expectant mothers to abandon the maternity ward, a clinical officer at the centre, Mr Isaac Mwesigye has said.
Mr Mwesigye said currently, the health centre has one bed which is used for delivery and for examination. He said such a bed is not friendly to mothers going through labour pains. On average, the hospital delivers only 10 mothers in a month. Mr Mwesigye revealed this at the handover of equipment to Kakomo and Namiryango health centres in Ndorwa West, Kabale District and Rweikiniro Health centre 111 in Ntungamo on Tuesday.
The items, which included panel ward screens, an examination couch, bed side lockers, trolleys, new born weighing scales, delivery kits and beds, among others were donated by the Inner Wheel Club of Kampala, a charity organisation being run by the wives of rotarians. He said apart from the equipment, the health facility is understaffed. The maternity ward for instance is run by one midwife an issue that has also forced mothers to make use of traditional birth attendants who can attend to them in time. Pregnant mothers and their babies usually die because of the delay by their husbands to decide whether they should deliver from the health facility or not, delay during the transportation process and delay to be attended to by health workers while at the hospital. Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, who received the equipment allocated to Kakomo and Namiryango health centres, said the contribution made by Inner Wheel Club would have a great impact on the health of mothers and their children.
Mr Bahati said most health facilities in Western Uganda like many other parts of the country are understaffed and lack equipment "Most of our health facilities are in a big mess because of the small resource envelop," Mr Bahati said. "If we get contributions from other sources, we will overcome the challenges." He said Shs98 billion which was allocated to the Ministry of Health in the 2008/2009 national budget is not adequate to cater for all health needs including reproductive health. About Shs60 billion out of the Shs98 billion will go towards the prevention, and treatment of HIV. The Ministry of Health estimates that Uganda loses 6,000 mothers to childbirth or pregnancy-related complications. This means that about 16 mothers die everyday because of childbirth or pregnancy related complications. Ntungamo District Woman MP, Ms Beatrice Rwakimari, said most mothers and their new born babies sleep on the floor due to lack of beds which she said exposes them to infections. Infections are reportedly among the major factors contributing to the death of mothers and their children. Mr Bahati also called for the men's involvement in the promotion of safe motherhood to reduce on the increasing numbers of mothers who die during pregnancy and child birth.
The President of the Inner Wheel Club of Uganda, Ms Winfred Biraaro, requested the MPs to ensure that the equipment benefits the intended beneficiaries. "I know of a health centre where a generator was donated to the maternity ward but the doctor who was in charge of the facility took it to his home,"Ms Biraaro said. "I request the MPs to ensure that this does not happen at the health facilities that have received the equipment."
She said every year, members of the Inner Wheel Club meet and decide on the areas to support and that this year, they agreed to focus on the sectors of education and health.
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