Completed-Project-Uganda-Medical-Clinic

Geography and climate
Uganda, in East Africa, sits on the equator. The majority of the country consists of a dry, savannah-covered plateau, with the Rwenzori mountain range adjoining to the west. In the south-east lies Lake Victoria, which, like all Uganda’s watercourses, flows into the Nile. The country’s rainforests and mountain forests have a tropical climate with two rainy seasons.

The situation today
Uganda has to battle with many different problems. In the north of the country, the population is afflicted with great poverty, as well as with bands of guerrillas in various regions who draw attention to themselves by carrying out murderous campaigns. Tensions between different ethnic groups and religions are aggravated by the large number of refugees arriving from surrounding countries, particularly the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Many preventable diseases are attributable to malnutrition, contaminated drinking water and unhygienic living conditions. They include malaria, worm infections, diarrhoea and respiratory infections. The majority of affordable medical facilities are still located in the centre of the country; on average, only one in six of the population has access to medical treatment.

Challenge
The maternal mortality rate is very high: for every 100,000 live births, around 436 women die. For every 1,000 live births, 76 children die, whilst 136 do not live beyond the age of 5. Furthermore, many babies are stillborn because of the lack of a health service. 60 percent of women give birth without any medical support. For most of them, it is too far to travel to the nearest hospital or health centre.

The Aim of the project was to improve the provision of health care in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

Action
Working with local partners, including the Office of Health, a maternity ward was being set up within the existing health centre and equipped with the necessary materials.

Beneficiaries

The project will directly benefit about 3,728 people in the commune Namuningi.

Project time frame: April 2009 to June 2010 The cost of implementing the project is around € 100,000, of which € 40,000 is being provided by the Arthrex Foundation.