On Sunday, April 14, Muramba Health Centre III received 30 beds from the Ministry of Health.
The delivery follows a pledge by the Commissioner for Infrastructure in the Ministry of Health, Eng George Otim.
Engineer Otim, on invitation of the Bufumbira South Member of Parliament, Hon Alex Niyonsaba Seruganda, toured several health facilities in the constituency, including Kisoro Hospital.
During his tour in June last year, the Commissioner was in company of two other staff from the Health Ministry, Eng. Emmanuel Kiburi and Eng. Jeniifer Kiiza Turyomurugyendo.
He remarked that he was shocked to see mothers sleeping on the ground in the Maternity ward, and the few old wooden beds with torn mattresses at Muramba HC III.
Otim pledged to deliver beds and their mattresses to the Maternity Ward at Muramba Health Centre III in less than two weeks, after finding old-wooden beds in use.
He was stunned that Muramba HCIII delivers a monthly average of 70 mothers, has a monthly average of 200 admissions and handles between 1500-2000 outpatients, but remains at the Health Centre III Level.
The Commissioner described the equipment and infrastructure in Kisoro Health Units as substandard and congested.
He was told that Health Units including Muramba, Bunagana and Nyakinama were overwhelmed by the numbers of patients, in face of inadequate human and financial resource, drug shortages and accommodation for the staff.
At Muramba, an average of 20 mothers are referred to Kisoro and Mutolere Hospitals for C-section every month, making a case for a Health Centre IV status.
Muramba is among health facilities in Kisoro district that receive patients from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The Health Centre In-charge, Dr. Felix Barekye says it has been a challenge for mothers to sleep on the floor.
“These beds are an answer to our longtime prayer. You can imagine the agony of a health worker who sees a mother sleeping on the floor before and after delivery,” Dr Barekye said.
He underscored the importance of standard medical beds compared to unrecommended wooden beds that harbor pests and microbes, due to their difficulty to clean.
Muramba Sub County LCIII Chairperson, Francis Nzabona appreciated the efforts by Hon Seruganda to address the problem.
According to Nzabona, the beds and the recently delivered ambulance are an answer to the residents of Muramba, despite other needs.
He called for the upgrade of Muramba Health Centre III to a Constituency Hospital at the level a Health Centre IV, for enhanced services.
“We thank him because there won’t be mothers sleeping on the floor anymore. He already delivered an ambulance that is supporting communities at a free cost,” said Nzabona.
Seruganda committed himself to accelerating the standards of the health sector in his constituency.
He noted that he would deliver mattresses and beddings to health centre soon.
“This is in connection to our visit last year. The mattresses will be delivered soon, because I am committed to see a vibrant health sector in this area,” Seruganda said.
He also reminded the local leaders, Health Centre staff and patients that he procured the ambulance on his own money, not from government funds.
He says the Health Ministry has already accepted the proposal to upgrade Muramba to a Health Centre IV, but the plan is only affected by limited funds.
“The presence of a Doctor here is testament that we shall soon have a Health Centre IV in this place. No Health Centre III can have a Doctor. The upgrade is on the way,” he noted.
“I bought this ambulance and everything within using my own money, not government funds. Those speculating should stop. I bought this vehicle for Bufumbira South, using my own money,” said Seruganda.
Muramba Health Centre’s ambulance broke down over 10 years ago, crippling referral services.
According to the staff, death was registered for a mother that was due for delivery due to lack of an ambulance.
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