Rotary club seeks sh500m for fistula and maternity ward

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The Rotary Club of Kampala-Wandegeya is seeking sh500m for the construction of a fistula and maternity ward in Bumanya Health Centre IV in Kaliro district.

Under the club project dubbed: Save a Mother, the proposed maternity and fistula ward is expected to impact about 10,000 children, 600 mothers and 4,000 adults among others each year.

The ward will have four labour rooms which can accommodate at least 10 mothers at the same time, one clinic examination room, a medical supply store room and a refrigerator.

Addressing the Rotarians during the fellowship at Kampala Kolping Hotel on Wednesday (October 23, 2024), Richard Mutwafu, the president-elect of the club, said Uganda's Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is still high at 336 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the health ministry.

Agnes Mungati Batengas, the district governor of D9214 remarking during Rotary Club of Kampala-Wandegeya's fellowship at Kampala Kolping Hotel on Wednesday, (October 23, 2024). (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine)

He revealed that with the construction of the fistula and maternity ward, the infant and antenatal mortality rates are expected to decrease. It will also decrease the number of women's maternal deaths and the time and money which the patients have been spending looking for medical services.

At the same event, the club in partnership with the Rotary Club of Osborne Australia donated 15 electric and manual Skyler beds to Bumanya HCIV, worth shillings 100 million, five to Nkozi Hospital and four to Kalasa Hospital with each bed costing between 13 million to 15 million.

The club also donated wheelchairs to some of the persons with disability from the community.

District governor of D9214 Agnes Mungati Batengas commended the Rotary Club for their generosity noting that the projects that the club is doing are creating an impact in the lives of different people across the country.

“As beneficiaries of the wheelchairs and beds, know that the Rotary Club of Wandegeya is handing over these items with love. We continue with our relationships with communities and hospitals like Bumaana,” Batengas said, adding that Rotarians shouldn’t be shy about what they do in the community and shouldn’t shy away from telling their stories.

Club president Margret Davis Stella said aside from the fistula and maternity ward construction, the club has embarked on the construction of a three-classroom block at Magoma Church of Uganda primary school in Luwero district among other projects.

Margret revealed that the club has a target of shillings 3.6m towards the Rotary Foundation Trust Fund (TRF) and another 1.8 million towards polio.

She added that they aim to be among the best-performing clubs in the D9214.

Dr Stephen Lali from Bumanya Health Centre commended the support the Rotary Club has rendered to the residents of Kaliro district and the neighbouring ones.

“Thank you for these donations but as Rotarians you should always endeavour to come back to monitor and supervise the various donations and projects that you have set up if they are in the right use,” Lali said adding that the majority of the donors don’t come back to evaluate what they have given us.

Hannington Jumba a father to Joel Ssentongo a beneficiary from the club commended the club for its kind gesture adding that it has been always hard for him as a father to carry his son around on his back because he is too heavy and he (Jumba) didn’t have money to purchase a wheelchair.