JMS donates sanitary pads to mothers at Kawempe hospital

By Gideon Peter Ssebulime

14^th Sept 2023

The Kawempe National Referral Hospital is struggling to address the congestion at the maternal and child health care unit, the administration has said.

Dr Rachael Nanzira, the Deputy Head Clinical Services at the hospital explains that even when the number of expecting mothers has reduced from 100 to 80, they are still overwhelmed with the number of patients due to inadequate staff and space.

Dr. Nanzira who was speaking after receiving a donation from the Joint Medical Stores (JMS) noted that Maternal and Child Health still needs more funding and human resources for better management.

Dr. Bildard Baguma, the JMS Executive Director, explained to the journalists after the donation that they are committed to improving health services and caring for the most vulnerable Ugandans.

A total of 944 items donated included sanitary pads and pants worth Sh25 Million which are necessary for expectant mothers at the facility.

Kawempe Hospital presently receives over 4,000 pregnant women from all over the country and delivers an average of 60 babies per day, the highest in the country.

According to the World Health Organization, while motherhood is considered a fulfilling natural experience, a high percentage of women face several challenges that cause them to suffer and, in some cases, to die.

The maternal mortality rate in Uganda remains relatively high at 336 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to a 2020 UNICEF report.

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