MTN gives Nawansega hospital UGX58m injection
Some of the high-end equipment donated by MTN Uganda to Nawansega Health Centre III.
MTN Uganda, through its philanthropic arm, MTN Foundation, has reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare access in Uganda with a significant donation valued at more than UGX58 million to Nawansega Health Centre III in Luuka District, in Eastern Uganda.
The donation includes essential medical equipment such as a CBC 3-part machine, a centrifuge machine, delivery and programming costs, solar lighting, 15 hospital beds and 15 mattresses, a medical refrigerator, and a microscope, aimed at bolstering healthcare services in the region.
The CBC 3-part machine is a critical equipment for hospitals and modern laboratories and is a rapid and cost-effective tool for assessing a patient's overall blood health. It provides valuable information to healthcare providers for diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of conditions, from infections and anemia to leukemia and other blood disorders.
- The hand-over ceremony, held at Nawansega Health Centre III, was attended by community leaders, health practitioners, and representatives from MTN Uganda, marking a pivotal moment in MTN Foundation’s Access to Health Care Initiative. This initiative focuses on enhancing maternal and neonatal health countrywide.
Rt Rev. Patrick Wakula, the Bishop of Busoga Central Diocese and the chief guest, urged residents to utilize the health facility for all health-related issues, including counseling services. “Let us work together to eliminate diseases in our communities and learn to seek healthcare services at our health facilities,” he said.
While handing over the equipment, Dorcas Muhwezi, the General Manager for Customer Experience at MTN Uganda, said they firmly believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected world, including access to quality healthcare.
- “This belief is the driving force behind our Access to Health Care Initiative, which we proudly launched in 2018 to help our government improve maternal and neonatal health in our communities,” she said.
Nawansega Health Centre III, a private not for profit facility, supporting more than 4,200 people, thus joins a growing list of 45 other beneficiaries under this initiative, which has seen MTN Foundation invest UGX 1 billion since its inception.
Some of the health centres that have benefitted from this initiative include Kimaka Health Centre III in Jinja City, Kagote Health Centre III in Fort Portal City, Ajia Health Centre III in Arua District, Kyayi Health Centre III in Gomba District, and Kaabong Mission Health Centre III in Kaabong District.
Each centre has received critical equipment and support aimed at enhancing the quality of care provided to their communities.
Muhwezi emphasized that the new support is closely aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years by 2030.
- “We extend our sincere appreciation to the management of MTN Uganda for their support, which will significantly enhance healthcare in our nearby communities,” said Kenneth Kulata, In-Charge of Nawansega Health Centre III.
- Located in the Busoga sub-region, Luuka District is a new district that was carved out of the larger Iganga District in 2005 and became operational as a separate district in 2010. Access to quality healthcare and education remains a challenge in most areas.
Kulata noted that whereas the facility serves the whole sub-county of Nawansega, it still faces challenges, including inadequate staffing, the absence of an ambulance, and a lack of clean piped water.