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MTN Uganda Foundation has today handed over a newly constructed and equipped maternity ward at Ibakwe HC II in Obongi district, in a concerted effort to lower the soaring maternal and child mortality rates in the region. This project is underpinned by MTN’s commitment to creating shared value and improving the lives of the people living in the communities within which it operates.

In line with its commitment to investing in Uganda’s health sector with the aim of achieving SDG 3 which focuses on health and well-being, MTN Uganda Foundation injected a total of Ugx.400Million in the construction and equipping of a full-fledged maternity ward complete with delivery beds, running water, electricity, and sanitary facilities among others. 

The maternity ward was commissioned today in an event held at Ibakwe Health Center II in Obongi, presided over by the Obongi District Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Matata Buga. Also in attendance was Amina Rukia, the OPM Secretary in charge of Health, MTI’s Country Director, Daryl Crowden and the UNHCR Moyo sub-office head, Sana Khana.

While handing over the newly constructed maternity ward, Phillip Odoi, the MTN Uganda Northern Region Business Manager said that the new maternity ward will ease the issue of overcrowding that the mothers previously faced while seeking antenatal and maternity services at the health center. 

“Due to the ever-growing health needs of people living in this settlement, it is important that we support the government’s efforts in extending better health services to them,” said Odoi.

Plans are also underway to upgrade the facility into a health center III as a way of improving health services delivery to the masses in the Palorinya refugee settlement. The Palorinya refugee settlement camp in Obongi District inhabits about 80% of Sudanese refugees who fled their country in hope of a better and safe life in Uganda. The camp is about 10km away from the nearest capable health facility and has had an urgent need for improved health services in the area for a while.

This corporate Social Investment in Ibakwe HC II by the MTN Uganda Foundation is part of a Ugx.1 billion pledge made to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) through UNHCR at the Refugee summit in 2017.

Officially opening the maternity ward at Ibakwe HC II tht will benefit the residents of the Palorinya Refugee settlement in Obongi district.

The first part of the pledge saw the MTN Uganda Foundation procure and distribute 10 cold chain refrigerators to 10 refugee health-supporting facilities. These facilities include; Arua-Oduoi HC III, Moyo -Idiwa HC III, Isingiro-Rulongo HC II, Kikuube-Malembaa HC II, Yumbe-Bidibidi HC III, Yumbe- Bangatuti H III, Yumbe-winga HC III, Lamwo-Awich HC III, Kyegegwa-Mukonde HC II, and Kamwenge-Kyempango HC III to safely transport and store medicines and vaccines.

The newly constructed maternity ward at Ibakwe HC II and its eventual upgrade into a HCIII will go a long way in meeting the health service needs of the people in Obongi district and its surrounding areas.

In his keynote speech at the Maternity ward handover ceremony held at Ibakwe Health Center II, Matata Buga, the Obongi district RDC said that the construction of a new maternity ward at Ibakwe HC II is going to highly contribute to the health centers’ upgrading to the level of Health center III as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

” The construction and equipping of the maternity ward at Ibakwe HC II has brought me such joy and confidence in companies like MTN Uganda. This has indeed shown us that the company indeed cares about the communities so much that they are supporting the efforts of the government of Uganda by undertaking projects to make a positive impact in these communities.” Buga said.

MTN Uganda, in a bid to achieve its objectives of creating shared value and doing good together, has over the years accelerated the implementation of partnerships like this one with Medical Teams International and UNHCR that saw the realization and completion of the project. 

MTN Uganda has over the years showcased its commitment to improving the communities in which they operate by engaging in socio-economic developments and ensuring that livelihoods are changed for the better.

Over the years, MTN Uganda has been donating all its Marathon proceeds towards improving maternal health services across the country. Some of the past beneficiaries include; Kawempe Hospital, Muyembe HC IV, Karugutu HC IV, Kalangala HCIV and Pakwach HC IV among others.

Key among the interventions MTN is undertaking this year, is the upgrade of Ibakwe health Centre II in Palorinya refugee settlement located in Obongi district and Bwizi health centre III in Western Uganda.