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Government builds 27 labour wards
President Museveni innaugurating the completed Grade B hospital in Entebbe recently
The number of expectant mothers who die because of lack of facilities to operate on them when complications arise during labour, is expected to come down following the completion of renovation works in major hospitals as well as construction of labour wards and theatres in 27 health centre Ivs.
A statement released by the acting Director General of Health Services Prof. Anthony Mbonye noted that at least 75% of construction works in the Health Centre IVs had been finalised.
The soon to be unveiled labour wards were built in Kasanda, Kiganda in Mubende district, Ngoma Mwara, Kyantungo, Kikamulo, Kabuyanda, Mwizi, Kitwe, Rubare, Buvuma, Budondo, Kiyunga, Ntenjeru-Kojja, Biyinja, Nankoma, Kibuka and Budaka.
The construction of the 27 labour wards and theatres are part of the general health sector infrastructure improvement programme that saw the refurbishment of nine general hospitals around the country. The renovation works as well as the construction of labour wards cost US$63m (Approx.Ushs207billion) which is part of the US$130m loan that was obtained from the World Bank for health systems strengthening.
The nine general hospitals that have received major renovations are Mityana, Kiryandongo, Nebbi, Anaka, Entebbe Grade B, Iganga, Moroto and Nakaseke.
Prof. Mbonye said: “The government of Uganda is committed to improving health services delivery through the country and will continue renovating and constructing health facilities. This will contribute to further reduction of maternal mortality.”
Experts say that at least 16 mothers still die daily while bringing life from preventable causes.
According to the spokesperson of the ministry of health, the government is yet to send experts such as Doctors and nurses to the new facilities when construction works are fully completed.
But critics have previously blamed the government’s poor health system administration that is characterised with poor attitudes of health workers towards their work that have seen many abscond from duty even when the facilities are available.
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