Sh517m modern maternity ward excites Bukedea

HEALTH | KACUMBALA

There was celebration on Thursday among the residents of Kachumbala in Bukedea district when a non-profit organization, Engineers for Overseas Development, handed over a maternity ward worth sh517m to the district authorities.

The maternity ward is at Kacumbala Health Centre III. The health centre, built in 1950, only had a maternity ward that accommodates three women. The new one can accomodate up to 10 expectant mothers at ago.

The new facility also has has two spacious delivery suites, equipped with modern  machines.

Ian Flower, the managing director for Engineers for overseas Development, said  they chose Kacumbala following an appeal by then the district chairman Wilberforce Tukei in 2014.

Kacumbala Health Centre III serves over 60,000 people. The in-charge Charles Osekeny, said they deliver 15 women per day and they have been grappling with the challenge of lack of space.

PIC: The new maternity ward (Credit: Geoffrey Ojore)

"There is need to upgrade this facility to health centre IV and build for it a theatre, so we stop referring women to Mbale Hospital," Osekeny said.

The area LC5 chairman, Moses Olemukan, hailed Flower and for helping in co-ordinating partners that supported the project.

"You are our friends indeed. You came at the time we needed you," Olemukan said.

Kacumbala women expressed gratitude to the partners for building a modern facility that will encourage more women to deliver in the hospital.

"Because of the poor state of the previous maternity ward, many women would opt to deliver their babies at Mbale Hospital, which is over 30km from here," Grace Amuron, an expectant mother, said.

The facility also have pre and postnatal wards, where women are kept for two days before they are dis-charged.