Bank of Uganda has handed over a maternity ward facility at Rwoburunga Health center III in Mitooma district.
This is aimed at improving the maternal and child healthcare in Mitooma.
The new maternity block, contains a kitchen and washroom facilities, solar power system, water harvesting system and donation of essential medical equipment worth shs500 million.
The donation includes state-of-the-art medical devices such as fetal monitors, baby incubators, delivery beds, and neonatal resuscitation equipment.
While officiating at the handover, the bank of Uganda deputy Governor Micheal Atingi Ego expressed gratitude for the handover of the facility after 16 months of construction by the UPDF engineering brigade.
“I want to thank the Bank of Uganda for this initiative in Mitooma, and this is part of our corporate social responsibility, this facility will improve the healthcare of pregnant mothers of not only Rwoburunga but also other areas,” Atingi said.
Dr. Atingi challenged the people of Mitooma to maintain the health facility and use it to improve the productivity of the populace.
“Now that you have this facility, utilize it and maintain it in good shape and state so that your health is improved and that way we will have a healthy population that will translate into a productive population,” Atingi said.
The deputy speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa who is also the area Member of Parliament commended the central bank for the gesture highlighting the relief the ward will bring to the area healthcare centers.
“I want to thank Bank of Uganda for the maternity ward, our people will now walk shorter distances to access maternal healthcare and childbirth care services,” Tayebwa said.
He however decried health workers who abscond from duty.
“We pay health workers to work not to be absent at work, to the district leaders chairman and CAO, DHO let these people work because when they don’t then they are tarnishing government efforts” He added.
Juliet Agasha Bashiisha the Mitooma woman MP challenged men to provide other essentials for their women that the facility may not provide and also escort them always.
“There are things or materials that you may need to provide to your pregnant wife that are personal so continue providing them and escort them to the health centers for antenatal care”, Agasha said.
Rwoburunga Health Centre III serves a population that often faces barriers to healthcare including distance from urban centers and limited resources.
With this donation, the center will be better equipped to handle emergencies, conduct routine check-ups, and provide maternal and child health services.