David Mafabi
6 October 2008
Nakapiripirit — Ninenty-eight per cent of expectant mothers in Nakapiripirit District deliver at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants, a report presented by the District Health Officer, Dr John Anguzo, has indicated.
This means that only two per cent of the mothers produce in the health centres or dispensaries under the help and supervision of the qualified medical personnel. "Although we have government medical facilities here, given the illiteracy levels, an intact traditional system and remoteness of our people, the deliveries in the government health facilities are low," said Dr Anguzo.
"Because of these factors, you don't have to get surprised that there are health units here that have not registered any deliveries throughout the year," he added. "These figures are too low and have been stagnating here for the last three years. The figure reflects that many expectant mothers, about 98%, are not utilising the health facilities given by government," Dr Anguzo told Daily Monitor recently in Nakapiripirit.
He said the low turn up at medical facilities was the cause of the high maternal and infant mortality in the district.
Dr Anguzo revealed that the district has only two doctors and 35 per cent of the established medical staff posts filled.
The authorities, he added, were conducting education tours to sensitise the residents on the need to visit health facilities.
Dr Jagire Onyango of Amudat Hospital said the low turn up at health facilities was also caused by the bad roads. Unable to get to hospital because of the bad roads, most people resort to herbs for treatment, he noted.
"For example, Karita village is about 100 kilometres from Amudat Hospital, yet the road is very bad. No vehicle can get there. You can't expect a pregnant woman from such a place to walk to the hospital," he said.
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