Kasanje HCIII gets maternal delivery equipment boost

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Kasanje Health Centre (HC) III has been boosted with maternal delivery equipment worth sh50m. The donation comes at a time when the health facility is facing numerous challenges, especially maternal delivery related, according to officials.

The equipment included delivery beds, cloves, solar lights and fridges. The equipment, according to Rotary officials,  is expected to improve health service delivery at the facility, especially for maternity and paediatric roles.

Speak during the equipment handover at the facility in Wakiso district on Monday,  December 2, 2024, Jacqueline Mali, the Rotary Club of Kampala East president, said the donation was part of the club's ongoing transformation activities in the area,  saying it follows other engagements including tree planting, education empowerment and water supply.

Mali called on health personnel at the facility to ensure sustainable use of the equipment,  urging them to undertake extra care of the donation.

"Our efforts are to see a transformation that is sustainable; I, therefore, call upon you all to utilise the equipment for the good of people's health," Mali said.

Some of the maternal health equipment that was delivered. (Credit: Ivan Tsebeni)

Realising zero mortalities

Annette Evelyn Kanyunyuzi, the president of Midwives Association of Uganda, described the donation as a complementary effort towards realising zero mortality and neonatal deaths.

She noted the country has over the past years made progress in dealing with the challenges, saying the Rotary Club of Kampala East's efforts will highly support the transformation journey.

"At times, the causes of delivery deaths can be preventable if we all play our roles rightly.  It starts with timely maternal consultations," Kanyunyuzi said.

Upon receiving the equipment, Kasanje HCIII in-charge Adam Mbayi said the facility has been faced with multiple challenges,  some of which he said had been solved by the donation.

He lauded the Rotary Club for what he described as a 'good gesture' towards saving lives.

"We are grateful for your timely donation.  We shall put in practice whatever you have told us," Mbayi said.

The facility's delivery team is also undergoing a two-day training to help equip needed skills.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda (March 2020), routine analysis of service delivery data by UNFPA showed an increase in maternal deaths by 10.4%, from 1,089 in 2019 to 1,202 in 2020, according to the Health Management Information System (HMIS). In the 55 districts that are supported by UNFPA, maternal deaths increased by 41.1% in the period January-June 2020 compared to the same period January-June 2019. 

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.