By: Ismael Kasooha

KAKUMIRO

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has appealed to expectant mothers to desist from delivering by the help of Traditional birth Attendants (TBAs), a reason she says is behind the high maternal mortality rates in the country.

“These TBAs cannot manage mothers given the prevailing conditions of diseases and other challenges. Let us encourage the mothers to seek antenatal care from health facilities and also deliver with the help of trained health workers,” said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja made the remarks on Monday while  presiding over the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a Shs 1.8b Kasenyi Health Center III in Kakindo sub county Kakumiro District.

Nabbanja asked the public to seek medical care from the facilities that have been set up by the government, especially the expectant mothers.

Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah being welcomed at Kasenyi for the ground breaking function to construct Kasenyi Health Center III

“We don’t want these health facilities to become white elephants yet a lot of money has been injected,” said Nabbanja.

She said that the government is aware that some mothers lose lives at the hands of TBAs and it is a government policy that these people should not be allowed to continue operation.

Mothers say that it has been a nightmare to access health care services because they have been walking for over 7 miles to Kakindo Health Center IV and are now optimistic that services will improve.

Justine Nasande, a mother from Kasenyi says that mothers have been suffering to go to Kakindo Health Center which is far away on foot because their husbands cannot afford the ‘Boda boda’ costs of over Sh 15,000 for a return journey.

“Some mothers had given up on antenatal care and postnatal because of the long distance. Immunization has been extremely difficult,” said Nasande.

Speaking at the same function the State Minister for Transport who is also the Member of Parliament Bugangaizi West Constituency, Fred Byamukama asked the Office of the Prime Minister to come to the aid of the people who were hit by a hailstorm in Kasenyi.

“Our people were hit hard by a hailstorm but they have not been assisted at all. I request that they are considered for relief aid,” said Byamukama.

He said that the Government has plans of ensuring that all roads are motorable so that the farmers can access markets for their produce.

Health workers from Kakumiro Health Center IV talking to the Prime Minister at her home during the Easter break

Meanwhile the Kakumiro District Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Mawejje revealed that the health center shall comprise a maternity ward, men and children wards, VIP latrines and staff quarters among other structures.

Mawejje appealed to the government to also consider stocking the facility with medical equipment as soon as it is completed.

The LCV chairperson Kakumiro District Joseph Sentayi and the RDC Kakumiro, Retired Major David Matovu pledged to monitor the facility for quality work.

Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah talking to Joseph Ssentayi, the Kakumiro district LC V chairman at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Kasenyi Health Center III

The Prime Minister asked Geses Uganda limited, the company contracted to construct the health center of Kasenyi to employ locals both unskilled and skilled man power and also buy local materials available to help residents earn from the government project.

The Health Center is expected to be completed by December 2022.

End