RUANDA: Bank of Uganda has supported the women of Rubanda district in Kigezi Sub-region with the first-ever ultra sound scan and an assortment of medical equipment.
This was through the refurbishing of a maternity ward at Hamurwa Health Centre IV in Rubanda District on Friday.
The maternity ward is a donation from Bank of Uganda as part of its social corporate responsibility to society. This follows a long period of mothers giving birth on the floor and in a poor structure that worked as the maternity ward.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the ward on Friday, the BoU Deputy Governor, Dr Michael Atingi-Ego, said this intervention is also directly related to the bank’s statutory mandate.
“The Bank of Uganda Act states in section 4(2)(k) that “where appropriate, participate in the economic growth and development programmes,” he explained.
“You may be aware that the Human Capital Development Programme under the National Development Plan aims to increase productivity of the population for increased competitiveness and better quality of life for all through improved child and maternal outcomes as well as increased life expectancy. Therefore, the BoU’s investment into Hamurwa Health Centre IV is in line with our mandate,” he added.
On top of extension and renovation of the maternity ward, BoU also constructed a walkway from the theatre to the Maternity Ward. It also supplied equipment and supplies such as Infrared Thermometer (Temperature Guns), disposal face masks (50 boxes), and BOU Branded cloth Face masks (200), among others.
“I am honoured to hand over the renovated Hamurwa Health Centre IV together with some medical equipment and supplies alongside items for observing Covid-19 SOPs, to the management and staff of the centre, district leadership, and this much deserving Rubanda community. You are welcome to make the best use of this health centre and please protect this property jealously and maintain it at a high standard into the future,” the Deputy Governor appealed.
The Health Centre is meant to serve a catchment area of 8,000 people though it receives people from the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rukiga, Rukungiri.