More Kabarole women embracing maternal health facilities

MATERNAL HEALTH FACILITIES

KABAROLE - The number of women delivering in health facilities in Kabarole district has increased by over 30% this year compared to the previous years.

While commissioning the newly renovated Kijura health center III in Kijura town council on Friday, Solomon Mugisa the District Health Officer said that many women have now started delivering in health centers attributing the practice to reduced maternal deaths in the district as compared to the previous years.

Prisca Tuhaise the in-charge of Kijura health center said that currently between 40-45 women deliver at the health facility.

Tuhaise said that the maternity wing had only one bed but they had acquired other ten beds to support the increasing number of women delivering at the health facility and that the average out-patient turn up per month is about 9000.

"Having a large turn up for mothers who attend antenatal care and give birth at the health center strains our mandate but we are forced to do whatever we can to save the lives of both the mothers and babies," Tuhaise said.

Some of the tents which have been used by the health workers to treat patients at Kijura Health Centre III. (Photo by Wilson Asiimwe)

Sylivia Rwabwogo the Kabarole district Woman Member of Parliament said that Kijura health center is overwhelmed by high numbers because the nearest health center IV in Bukuku sub-county is far away from the people of Kijura. He however added that it's the duty of the health department to sensitise mothers on the dangers of not attending antenatal clinics and over reliance on traditional birth attendants.

The health center was renovated by MTN foundation as part of the activities to celebrate 20 years since it started its operations in Uganda.