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Entrance to Kabwohe HCIV in Sheema municipality | Stuart Twinomujuni - Torch Media Africa
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Uganda’s health care system has improved over the years with 6,940 health facilities, of which 45% are government owned.
However, Health care services are provided by both the public and private sectors, with each sector covering about 50% of the standard units of output but both sectors play an essential role in supporting communities to improve their health.
According to a health survey done by Makerere university in 2018, the staffing level in public health facilities was 72 percent.
This effort has seen the infant mortality rate reduce from 336 t0 189 per 1000 live births per year.
Josephine Tugume (not her original names) and address withheld, joined the bracket after she went to hospital for safe delivery in Western Uganda’s Sheema district at Kabwohe Health center IV, but all couldn’t yield good results when she lost her baby in the hands of health workers regardless of her making advance arrivals at the facility.
On January 24, 2024, Josephine and her husband prepared themselves in the hope to welcome a bouncing baby.
The couple’s choice was none other than Kabwohe health center IV being the biggest icon of health in the entire district and municipality.
She narrates that they were welcomed and admitted in the facility like any other mother whose time to give birth had clocked.
‘’Situation worsened when they told me to push, and I could do as I used to’’. She stressed as she broke down in tears.
The couple was expecting their third child at the time.
She adds ‘’ I opted for a cross section, but when I told them (medical workers), they gave me a deaf ear thinking I would push’’.
Based on previous deliveries, Josephine had been undergoing normal deliveries.
‘’The pregnancy moved up in the chest and I just felt like doing nothing while pushing’’. She stated.
She however regrets that if her request for C-section was honored by the Nurse, she would have delivered her baby alive.
Health Centre IV’s serve a population of approximately 100,000 people and provide emergency surgery, blood transfusion services, maternity services, outpatient care, antenatal care, immunization, and outreach among others.
Josephine’s situation required an emergency operation but because Midwives were not too quick to understand her situation and desire, the baby died in the womb.
‘’One of the midwives saw me losing control, reached and touched me and she looked shocked and changed mood on the face when she realized the baby had died in the womb.’’ She recalls.
Josephine points out that she heard them (Midwives) whispering to themselves in English ‘’we had lost the baby’’.
After this, she says was moved to the theatre, operated on and only to see her baby had lost breath.
‘’I was traumatized after thinking of how much effort my husband and I put into taking care of the pregnancy, but my hope was restored by a scripture in the Bible, that God is the one who gives and takes away’’. She laments.
Our efforts to contact the Kabwohe Health Centre IV in charge Dr. Oras Kizito went futile as he could not answer our repeated calls.
Currently, Josephine is still on home based treatment following an operation that was made on her.
Josephine’s story comes at a time when Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate International women’s day today and national ceremonies were held in Katakwi district under the theme ' ‘ Invest in women; Accelerate progress’’.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was the chief guest who fronted his lecture on elitism versus mass transformation saying prosperity shouldn’t be for few individuals but for all.
Giving examples, recalled scenarios where few wealthy people would come in an area and many that are less privileged dance for them, a vice Museveni believes should change.
The president also condemned sectarianism of tribe and religion saying stability had been brought about by the principle of neutrality adding that Sectarian approach can hardly contribute to development.
The function was characterized by several activities that included Performances by the Army, Police and Prisons forces parade, songs of women liberation and other sorts of entertainment.
Prior, the president inspected an exhibition of items crafted and produced by women in their effort to sustain themselves and their families.
Prayers were done by women in leadership from different religions as a symbol of reflection on commemoration of their day.
