Access to healthcare services is critical to good health yet some residents of Buhanika Sub-county in Hoima District especially expectant mothers face a landscape challenge to access the nearby health facilities more than 10 kilometres away.
The timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes is lacking in that part of mid-western Uganda with the residents feeling the pinch of having only two health units that serve more than 50, 000 residents of Buhanika sub-county.
The two health units include Buhanika and Butema Health Centres.
Residents of Kyohairwe and Wagesa parishes are the most affected since they trek a long distance seeking medical services, moreover at night, when especially prenatal and birthing among other health complications strike, putting human life at risk.
Ms Esther Nyirasabimaana, a resident of Kyohairwe village in Kyohairwe parish, says the residents travel 10km and 7km to Butema Health Centre 3 and Hoima Regional Referral Hospital respectively seeking healthcare services.
Though the health facility exists in the area, it has a financial connotation on the low income earning residents, who during day time, anyone in need of the services spends Shs10,000 to travel on a hired motorcycle to and from the health establishment.
The long distance has left expectant mothers without any other option than seeking midwifery services from the outlawed traditional birth attendants, according to Ms Harriet Atugonza, a resident of Kyohairwe village.
The matter is exacerbated by rainy seasons when pregnant mothers travel to the health facility on motorcycles on the potholed, muddy and slippery road which impacts on their health negatively.
To respond to the In-charge of Butema Health Centre 2, clinician Frank Wamaani’s revelation that the facility serves more than 20,000 people from two parishes, the Hoima district woman councillor for Buhanika sub-county, Ms Judith Nyamaizi, adds her voice that trouble worsens when her constituents trek the long distance to the health facilities at night.
However, she discloses that plans are underway to establish a community health facility in Kyohairwe village to counteract the distance though as of now there is no sign to the effect.
“There’s a five-year- plan to establish a community-based health facility in Kyohairwe village just opposite Kyohairwe primary school. We are going to put into effect the project as communities though the government will aid us in some requirements. However, we haven’t yet anything on the ground,” she says.
Mr Jamil Kasangaki, the Buhanika Sub-county Local Council 3 Chairman, says the proposedcommunity health facility is projected to serve more than 10,000 local residents in Kyohairwe parish.
He says the facility will sit on a four-acre piece of land that was acquired by the sub-county authorities for the noble cause.
