By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
KASESE
Earlier today the Rotary Club of Kasese Snow Peaks, Madaraka Finance Limited and Centenary Bank Kasese launched the Rukoki Maternity Marathon at Rukoki Health Centre IV
Rukoki Health Centre IV Maternity Ward caught fire on 24th June 2021which destroyed the building and rendered the ward unfit for utilization by the mothers.
The burnt structure was the main building of the facility and housed; a labour suit, antenatal care services, post natal care services, HIV/ART clinic and maternity
Government (Kasese Municipality) took a quick response by allocating development funds to the facility that was used to modify the patient’s kitchen into a labour suit which accommodates 4 patient beds, 2 delivery beds and also modified the small immunisation room into a post natal ward which accommodates 10 patients. The rest of the mothers are accommodated in a tent pitched in the compound.
However the number of patients utilizing the facility has since increased and this promoted for urgent response to renovate the destroyed building to accommodate the increasing number of patients and mothers utilizing the facility while also preventing congestion related ailments and risks, not forgetting the cold in the tent that houses new born babies and mothers.
Patients that visited the facility between 2021 and 2022 are as follows.
2020/21 were 7324,2021/22, 9345
Maternity Admissions:2020/21 were 1,742, 2021/2022 were 2876,
Deliveries:2020/211 were 552, 2021/222 were also 616.
Ceserian section: This recorded 104 in 2020/21 and 470 cases in 2021/2022I and it’s against this background that Centenary bank, Rotary Club of Kasese ,Snow Peaks and other Partners have come up with the idea of a marathon slated for 25th March 2023 meant to solicit for 170 million required to renovate the maternity ward that was burnt to save mothers and babies.
During the launch earlier today the President of Rotary Club of Kasese Snow Peaks Muhimbi Fred and the Director of Madaraka Finance Ltd Douglas Saturday made an appeal to all the people of Kasese to support the cause by purchasing marathon kits, raffle tickets or make direct donations into the marathon account that has been opened in Centenary Bank Kasese branch.
They also said they were organizing the marathon to suppliment government efforts since health is a collective responsibility
The launch was graced by the newly installed Bishop of the SDA church, government representatives, representatives of development partners from Centenary Bank and Madaraka.
These revealed that marathon kits be out during the course of the week and the public will be notified where to purchase them and the marathon route.
Support Rukoki Maternity Marathon to save mothers and babies.
