Jane was born in December 2017 at our Clinic in Bukomolo village, Kibuku district, eastern Uganda. Her face lights up as she looks into the camera lenses to be photographed.
The best moments in our maternity department are when a mother returns to the health centre with her baby for immunization or when we see some of the babies delivered growing up healthy and the community pointing at them as our clinic children.
The clinic registers at least 5 new pregnancies every month. From 2017 when the clinic opened, 31 children have been delivered. These moments however have not been without challenges. There is still low support of men towards their pregnant wives.
The clinic is now working to include substantial benefits on the general health of women and their children. We are promoting good traditional social support that involves men and other family members to effect proper decision making before, during and after pregnancy.
We are ensuring that couples have the information needed to seek antenatal care, post-partum follow-up, health education on pregnancy, breast feeding, and nutrition.
Kibuku district has 43% maternal mortality in the country. The district is remote with low access to health services.
Before establishment of our clinic, people walked over 10 miles to access the nearest health facility. Pregnant women and children suffered most and sometimes died helplessly in their houses or along the way to seek care.