By Bondry Kilenga
The Maternal health concerns took centre stage in the belated International Women’s Day celebrations in Rengen Sub County over the weekend.
Maria Lomiro, a resident in Rengen highlighted the challenges expectant mothers go through in accessing health services due to distance and lack of emergency services.
She appealed to the authorities to upgrade health centre IIs to health centre III status to enable them get better services.
Lomiro, noted that Rengen health centre III and other facilities that offer advanced services are about 10 kilometres away from their area.
Elijah Lokoribok, the Rengen LC III Chairperson raised the need for an ambulance attached to health center III to be stationed at the facility.
He noted that the ambulance is not currently stationed at the facility, thus hindering emergency response.
Lokoribok appealed to Kotido Woman MP Margret Aleper for intervention.
Meanwhile Anna Abok, another resident stressed the importance of empowering women with startup capital, noted that women often serve as breadwinners for their families.
She argued that women are more likely to utilize grants for household development, whereas men often misuse funds.
In her response, the Kotido District Woman MP Margret Aleper, who officiated the function as a Chief Guest, pledged to address the issue of ambulance.
On the issue of the elevation of the health centre IIs to III, Aleper, said elevating a health centre is not a one-day event but a process.
Aleper also pledged her continued commitment to advocate for increased inclusion of women in government programs as a vehicle for economic empowerment and asked men to support their wives during pregnancy, childcare, and farming.
International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, annually, to celebrate the achievements of women and to call for action to accelerate gender equality.
This year’s national celebrations themed “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality” were held at Bukwiri, Church of Uganda Primary School, Kyankwanzi district, and featured President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni.
