Women decry limited maternal child health services in Rwampara

Rwampara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mothers in Rwampara district are demanding adequate maternal health services.

According to the Rwampara District Health Officer Allan Twesigomwe, women can access maternal health services from five health centres in the entire district, contrary to the policy of accessing the service from all health centres IIIs and IVs.

Twesigomwe says the most affected people are from Ndeija, Mwizi, and Rugando sub counties which lack health centres.

Jessica Musiime, a resident of Kibale cell in Mwizi sub county and a mother of two, says that she travels for more than 20 kilometres to get the services from Nyeihanga town council. She says coupled with the bad roads in the area, she spends 35,000 to 40,000 Shillings on transport.

Olive Bakunda, an expectant mother from Rweibogo cell in Rweibogo-Kibingo town council says that due to the long distance from her home to the health facility, she was forced to go to the facility early before her due date to avoid birth complications.

Mugabi Rashid, the in-charge of Kinoni health center IV says that the facility lacks adequate space in the maternity ward and antenatal care room. He says expectant mothers and those who have delivered share the same ward.

Lydia Mirembe, the in-charge of antenatal care says they deliver more than 100 mothers a month and because of limited space, they are forced to discharge a mother before they heal.

She says babies are at risk of contracting diseases from mothers because of the congestion in the ward.

Rwampara district has 8 sub counties and town councils and upon creation, it had 18 health centres of which two were heath center IVs, two health centre IIIs and the rest health center IIs.

However currently, it has three health center IIIs after the upgrading of Nyaruhandagazi which is yet to start operating.

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