New health centre provides relief to mothers

When Josiane Mukamana was pregnant with her second child, she sold one of her biggest investments. 

She needed the money, she says, to get to the nearest clinic. She had developed complications during her pregnancy and needed transportation.

“I had to sell the only cow,” Josiane says.

It was different the first time Josiane was pregnant. 

“I had my first born child at home. Willy Byukusenge is now four. Thank God I did not have many complications,” she says. 

The second pregnancy, however, was different. The distance Josiane lived from a clinic proved to be a problem. 

“We did not have public taxis connecting our village to the only existing health centres,” she explains. “I had my second born at Ikitabi health centre, about 20 km from home.”

Today, Josiane is expecting her third child. But this time, she’s not worried about how she will get to the clinic when the time comes for the baby to arrive. This time, she can walk.

World Vision, in partnership with Golf Fore Africa, opened a fully-equipped health clinic about 300 metres away from Josiane’s house last month. At the opening, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, thanked World Vision for partnering with the government towards improving living conditions, especially in rural areas.

“It always makes a difference to provide support to communities that need it most. The centre is clean, efficient and well built. I would like to congratulate local leaders for good partnership with development partners like World Vision,” she says.

The clinic has already been servicing patients.

Josiane goes there to get regular antenatal check-ups.

“Now I can sit back and relax with hope that I will deliver my baby with no difficulties since I have a fully-equipped health centre near me,” she happily says. 

The director of Uwinkingi Health Centre, Muriel Uwabyawe, explains that the centre has saved thousands of residents from travelling long distances to the nearest town for medical services. 

“Patients used to travel over 20 kms to far away centres. Pregnant women were giving birth from their homes. We are grateful that through our partnership with World Vision, a modern and well-equipped health facility has been brought near the people of Uwinyingi sector,” Muriel says.

Muriel adds that before the health centre started operating, about 12 women were giving birth from their homes each month. She says through sensitisation and the availability of the health centre near them, about 25 to 30 mothers are already giving birth at Uwinkingi Health Centre per month.

“Sometimes mothers come to the health centre in very bad shape, meaning that if the health facility was not here, we would have many child death cases, just like it was before Uwinkingi was constructed,” Muriel says.

She explains that the presence of a nutritional training centre at the health centre has equipped mothers with the knowledge of how to prepare a balanced meal, which has reduced cases of severe malnutrition among children.

“About four months ago, we had over 80 children with severe malnutrition (in red, meaning the most severe form of malnutrition),” Muriel says. “Our February 2012 report to the Ministry of Health indicated that only four children in Uwinyingi sector are currently in red and only 12 in yellow. This is a sign that malnutrition cases have greatly reduced, mostly due to the training offered to all mothers that come for medical services at Uwinkingi.” 

Muriel says that the presence of the health centre has restored hope for a better future to hundreds of mothers and their children.

By Martin Tindiwensi