Mr Gilbert Olanya and Ms Akello Lucy Amuru district members of parliament on Saturday surprised with delight Amuru residents when they launched a safe motherhood project worth over Shs30million.
The program was launched at Labongogali Health centre in Amuru District and will see every pregnant woman who will deliver in any Health center in the district get a free basin and a bar of soap.
The project will run for three years from 2015 to 2017.
Mr Olanya who is the Kilak county Member of Parliament said that their preliminary survey shows that over 60% of women fear coming to the hospital because they might not afford to buy a new basin and a Bar of soap after giving birth.
He said, “This has forced pregnant women to deliver from home and this is exposing their lives and that of their children to health risks.”
Ms Akello, the Woman Member of Parliament said that, “This is a contract we have taken with the community to promote maternal health and it does not matter whether we make it back to parliament in 2016 general elections or not.”
Ms Lamwaka Jennifer who has twins and benefitted from the program said that the initiative will support them because sometimes they might not have money to buy new basins for their babies.
She said, “Other leaders should also support this program initiated by Olanya and Akello.”
Mr Onekalit Robert, in charge of Labongo-gali health centre III said that the greatest challenge they have is that they are receiving Health centre II package and might run short of other things like gloves.
“Amuru district local government should help us because we lack a lot. We have no choice but to make the expectants mothers buy some of them which makes them shun the hospital.”
