Busoga, Uganda, 13 August 2024 – The Ministry of Well being (MoH) and the World Well being Group (WHO) have launched a refurbishment of 28 well being services in Uganda’s Busoga sub-region. This initiative, which is an important step in service supply is with the monetary backing of the Korea Worldwide Cooperation Company (KOICA).
The refurbishment is a part of a five-year challenge titled Well being System Strengthening for Enhancing Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Youngster, and Adolescent Well being (RMNCAH) Service Supply within the Busoga Sub-Area. Launched in 2021, the RMNCAH challenge is a concerted effort to finish preventable maternal, new child, youngster, and adolescent deaths throughout the nation. The challenge is being carried out in Bugiri, Mayuge, Iganga, Kamuli, and Buyende districts.
The inauguration ceremony, held at Baitambogwe Well being Middle III in Mayuge District, was graced by the Commissioner for Reproductive, Maternal and Youngster Well being on the Ministry of Well being, Dr. Richard Mugahi who underscored the importance of the challenge to Uganda’s healthcare system. “This refurbishment is a pivotal a part of our ongoing efforts to make sure that each particular person within the Busoga sub-region has entry to high quality healthcare, thereby lowering preventable maternal and new child deaths,” he famous.
Dr. Mugahi prolonged his appreciation to WHO, KOICA, and the district officers for his or her unwavering dedication to bettering well being infrastructure within the area.
Ms. Oh Sangeun, the Deputy Nation Director for KOICA Uganda, reaffirmed her nation’s dedication to supporting Uganda’s healthcare development. “The Republic of Korea, via KOICA, stays steadfast in collaborating with important companions resembling WHO to help Uganda in its quest to cut back maternal, toddler, and youngster mortality and to realize the Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs) by 2030,” she stated.
Current on the ceremony was Dr. Kurabachew Alemu, the WHO Medical Officer for Reproductive, Maternal, New child, Youngster and Adolescent Well being, who emphasised WHO’s dedication to strengthening well being techniques within the sub-region. “By way of the RMNCAH challenge, we’re dedicated to bolstering well being infrastructure and enhancing the capability of district well being techniques to deal with the reproductive, maternal, neonatal, youngster, and adolescent well being wants in Busoga,” Dr. Alemu famous. He added that the renovations align with WHO’s broader efforts to assist Uganda’s journey in direction of Common Well being Protection.
In January 2023, WHO and the Ministry of Well being performed a complete evaluation of 30 well being services within the Busoga sub-region. The findings revealed that 28 services required important renovations and expansions to serve the native inhabitants adequately.
The refurbishment efforts will concentrate on important areas resembling maternity and youngsters’s wards, outpatient departments, increasing present laboratories, and enhancing antenatal care clinics. Moreover, a brand new rainwater harvesting system will likely be put in in any respect refurbished well being services. Chosen services will obtain a motorized water system to additional handle water stress throughout the services.
Since its inception, the challenge has made outstanding progress. Over 100 lives are saved month-to-month via emergency referrals facilitated by seven Sort B Toyota Land Cruiser ambulances procured for the area. Moreover, greater than 1,500 well being employees have acquired coaching and mentorship in important well being providers, together with being pregnant care, childbirth, new child care, household planning, sexual and reproductive well being and rights, and emergency obstetric and new child care.
By December 2024, the RMNCAH challenge is anticipated to have a profound impression, benefiting 560,809 pregnant girls, 499,852 newborns, 349,327 school-aged adolescents (10–19 years), and 687 academics throughout each main and secondary faculties within the Busoga sub-region. Nonetheless, extra pregnant girls, newborns and adolescent ladies are anticipated to proceed benefiting from this funding.