Rotary Clubs Donate Shs131m to Enhance Maternal and Child Health at Masindi Hospital

Masindi Hospital, serving Masindi District and five neighboring areas including Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Hoima, Luwero, Nakaseke, plus IDPs from Congo and South Sudan, now has bolstered support for maternal and child health.

The initiative, valued at $35,000 or about Shs131.3 million, comes from a Rotary Global Grant led by the Rotary Club of Bweyogerere Namboole. Partners include Rotary Clubs of Allschwil-Regio Basel D1980, Seeta, Masindi, and districts D9213 and D9214, alongside Rotary International.

Key activities involve supplying vital equipment for maternal and child care, training health workers and Village Health Teams (VHTs), and promoting community health awareness to cut disease rates.

Over 6,000 women of reproductive age, 5,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, 1,000 newborns, 3,000 children under five, 350 health workers, 30 VHTs, Masindi District Local Government, and the Ministry of Health stand to gain.

Rotarian Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, District Governor of Rotary District 9213, handed over the project and urged hospital and local leaders to maintain the equipment for lasting community benefits.

This addresses dire needs amid high maternal and child mortality. In 2022/2023, Masindi recorded 217 perinatal deaths district-wide, with 115 at the hospital—including fresh stillbirths, macerated stillbirths, and early newborn losses—linked to factors like skipped antenatal visits, respiratory issues, delayed transfers, supply shortages, and negligence.

The project aims to ease long travel for care and lower deaths among mothers and young children.

Source: Daily Monitor