THE Kagera Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Thomas Rutachunzibwa, has appealed to residents in the region to ensure that expectant mothers attend clinic regularly to get necessary medical counselling.
The appeal comes after a report that
some 209 pregnant women died from pregnancy complications between 2012
to 2014. Some 68 pregnant women died during 2012, 72 died during 2013
while 69 pregnant women died during 2014, implying an average of 69.3
per cent within a threeyear period.
The deaths were attributed to excessive bleeding (PPH), Eclampsis, Sepsis, malaria and obstructed labour.
Lack of adequate delivery centres and
shortage of medicine in most of the health centres greatly affected the
region’s leadership efforts of improving its residents’ health. In spite
of the fact that various efforts have been made to extend primary
health care coverage, particularly in rural areas, the scarcity of
economic resources impedes the implementation of many health programmes.
A total of 1,183,155 children aged
between nine months to 15 years in Kagera Region received measles and
rubella vaccinations, implying 93.6 per cent success. Dr Rutachunzibwa
said the target was to vaccinate 1,262,717 children during the exercise
which kicked off on October 18 to 24, last year.
According to Dr Rutachunzibwa, a total
of 109,407 children aged below five years in Kagera Region were
immunised against Rotavirus Diarhoea and Pneumonia, last year. Between
30-50 per cent of preventable diseases recorded during 2008 were due to
diarrhoea.
The disease is contracted by most
children aged under five years by Rotavirus through contaminated water
and food. “As we sit here today, a pregnant woman/ child is dying due to
preventable diseases. We have to ensure that such deaths are
controlled,” he said
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