Kaberamaido mothers shun hospitals
Apr 26, 2010
PREGNANT women in Kaberamaido district have deserted health units for traditional birth attendants, the Lwala Hospital superintendent, Andrew Edielu, has said.
By Simon Naulele
PREGNANT women in Kaberamaido district have deserted health units for traditional birth attendants, the Lwala Hospital superintendent, Andrew Edielu, has said.
“On average we get only twenty deliveries per month in Lwala Hospital because the presence of traditional doctors in the area,†he said recently.
Edielu was responding to the health minister’s concern about why there were fewer women in the labour ward at the time of his visit.
“We should do all we can to stop the traditionalists from delivering children in the villages,†said Edielu.
The minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, retorted: “You cannot stop them totally. Instead, you can sensitize them on the importance of referral.â€
However, the district chairperson, Robert Engulu, blamed the trend on the arrogance of the midwives.
He also blamed the low turn-up of mothers on the small number of the midwives in the district.
The district speaker, Joseph Emusu, said health units are expensive for poor mothers.
He said asking mothers to buy syringes, drip water, drugs, gloves, gauze and a razorblade is expensive and that is keeping them away.
Edielu said the hospital is faced with challenges ranging from financial problems to lack of X-ray and ultrasound services, poor staff living conditions, poor infrastructure with extremely limited storage and dispensing space.
The other problems include poor water supply, insecurity as the hospital is not fenced and lack of means of transport for administrative duties.
PREGNANT women in Kaberamaido district have deserted health units for traditional birth attendants, the Lwala Hospital superintendent, Andrew Edielu, has said.
“On average we get only twenty deliveries per month in Lwala Hospital because the presence of traditional doctors in the area,†he said recently.
Edielu was responding to the health minister’s concern about why there were fewer women in the labour ward at the time of his visit.
“We should do all we can to stop the traditionalists from delivering children in the villages,†said Edielu.
The minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, retorted: “You cannot stop them totally. Instead, you can sensitize them on the importance of referral.â€
However, the district chairperson, Robert Engulu, blamed the trend on the arrogance of the midwives.
He also blamed the low turn-up of mothers on the small number of the midwives in the district.
The district speaker, Joseph Emusu, said health units are expensive for poor mothers.
He said asking mothers to buy syringes, drip water, drugs, gloves, gauze and a razorblade is expensive and that is keeping them away.
Edielu said the hospital is faced with challenges ranging from financial problems to lack of X-ray and ultrasound services, poor staff living conditions, poor infrastructure with extremely limited storage and dispensing space.
The other problems include poor water supply, insecurity as the hospital is not fenced and lack of means of transport for administrative duties.