The Government of Iceland, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Marie Stopes International, has donated medical equipment worth Shs1.08 billion to Buyinja Health Centre IV in Namayingo District, in a major boost to maternal healthcare services in Uganda’s Busoga sub-region.
The consignment includes theatre equipment, hospital beds, a wheelchair, resuscitation kits, as well as advanced ultrasound and CT scan machines.
Health officials say the equipment will greatly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of obstetric fistula, a debilitating childbirth-related condition that continues to affect many women in the district.
Namayingo remains one of the areas with a high prevalence of obstetric fistula, largely attributed to prolonged and obstructed labour.
Health experts note that the situation is worsened by low uptake of antenatal care services, with many expectant mothers opting for traditional birth attendants instead of delivering in health facilities.
Medical personnel at Buyinja Health Centre IV have welcomed the new equipment, describing it as timely and transformative in strengthening the facility’s ability to manage complicated maternal health cases.
Dr Ivan Makunda, the facility’s in-charge, said the CT scan machine is the first of its kind in the district and will significantly reduce the financial burden on patients.
“We have been referring patients outside the facility for scans, where they are charged between Shs25,000 and Shs30,000, which many cannot afford. This new machine will enable them to access these services free of charge,” he said.
He added that the ultrasound machine will benefit both expectant mothers and the wider community by improving diagnosis of various medical conditions.
Dr Makunda highlighted delayed labour as a major cause of obstetric fistula in the district, linking it to entrenched community practices.
“When someone has delivered five children from home, it becomes difficult to convince them to go to a health facility for the sixth. They often only come when complications arise, and by then it is too late,” he explained.
Dorothy Kayaga, a registered midwife at the facility, echoed similar concerns, pointing to widespread misconceptions and reliance on traditional remedies during pregnancy.
“Many women use herbs throughout pregnancy and only seek medical help when complications occur. By that time, some present with ruptured uteruses and other severe conditions that can lead to fistula,” she said.
The donation forms part of the Survivors Treatment and Obstetric Fistula Prevention (STOP) programme, a three-year, $3 million initiative funded by the Embassy of Iceland. Now in its second year, the programme targets Namayingo District, which faces high maternal morbidity and limited access to quality healthcare.
Officials from the Embassy of Iceland reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Uganda’s healthcare system, particularly in underserved regions, with a focus on gender equality and women’s health.
Hilda Engilbertsdottir, Head of Mission at the Embassy of Iceland in Uganda, said the STOP programme adopts a multi-sectoral approach aimed at increasing utilization of fistula prevention and treatment services.
“In Iceland, gender equality is a high priority. It is the reason we have achieved a lot of success, and that is why we want other countries to reach the same level. Fistula, in our view, is both a gender equality issue and a human rights issue, and that is why taxpayers in our country are more than willing to support Uganda in this area,” she said.
Martin Agaba, a programme officer at Marie Stopes International, commended the Embassy of Iceland for supporting the initiative.
To date, the programme has recorded significant progress. More than 15,000 people have been reached with sexual and reproductive health and fistula prevention messages through radio programmes, community dialogues, and social events.
In addition, 129 Village Health Teams and community leaders have been trained to identify and refer fistula cases, while integrated outreach services have reached over 3,200 individuals, many of them young people.
In terms of health system strengthening, maternal health equipment worth more than Shs1.7 billion has been distributed across several facilities in the Busoga region.
The programme has also trained 14 medical officers in essential obstetric surgical skills and 14 anaesthetic officers in safe anaesthesia.
As a result, the Caesarean section rate in Namayingo has increased from 1.5 percent to 4.2 percent, reflecting improved access to life-saving surgical interventions.
The programme has further supported 115 women to undergo fistula repair surgery and provided comprehensive rehabilitation services to 200 survivors, including psychosocial support, life skills training, and financial assistance.
With plans to scale up surgical repairs and operationalize a geo-spatial emergency referral system, stakeholders are optimistic that the initiative will further reduce obstetric fistula cases and restore dignity to affected women across Namayingo and the wider Busoga sub-region.
The handover event was attended by officials from UNFPA led by Country Representative Kristine Blokhus, ACCORD, and Namayingo District local government, among others.