KISORO UGANDA: The United States Embassy in Uganda has commissioned a renovated maternity ward at Chahafi Health Centre IV in Chahafi Town Council, Bufumbira East Constituency, Kisoro District.
The facility was commissioned on Monday by Mikael Cleverley, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Uganda. The maternity ward, valued at more than 400 million Uganda shillings, is expected to serve an estimated 17,000 people from Kisoro District and neighbouring areas.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Cleverley pledged that the United States would continue supporting the expansion of health services in Kisoro District and Uganda at large.
Kisoro District Health Officer Dr. Bosco Muhanji said the maternity ward was funded by the United States of America and confirmed that the project cost more than 400 million shillings.
The in-charge of Chahafi Health Centre IV, Dr. Ferex Bareke, said the facility serves more than 17,000 people from different areas, including communities from neighbouring countries.
Bareke appealed to authorities to support the upgrading of Chahafi Health Centre IV into a community hospital to improve health service delivery in the area.
He said the facility is equipped with essential medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators and autoclave machines, among others.
Chahafi Town Council Mayor Hardad Nkunzimana also appealed to Members of Parliament from the area to push for the upgrading of the health centre into a hospital.
Nkunzimana said the proposal had previously been pursued by the former Bufumbira East Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, and the late State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Sarah Mateke.
However, he said the efforts stalled following their departure from active political leadership.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajj Badru Sebyalla called on health workers to work diligently and fight corruption in the health sector.Sebyalla also appealed to the U.S.
Embassy to consider supporting Kisoro District in addressing challenges resulting from instability in neighbouring eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which he said has affected cross-border trade and contributed to economic hardship among residents.
The commissioning ceremony was held at the grounds of Chahafi Health Centre IV and was attended by officials from the Kisoro District Health Department led by Dr. Bosco Muhanji, civil servants led by Chief Administrative Officer John Nyakahuma, District Police Commander SP Edatu Cosmas, health workers, local leaders and residents.
