Seed Global Health donated medical equipment valued at Shs346 million to Arua, Lira, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospitals (RRHs) as well as Busitema University.
The donation includes essential tools such as patient monitors, blood pressure machines, suction machines, airway equipment, phototherapy machines, baby warmers, foetal dopplers, oxygen concentrators, and more. This equipment will significantly enhance service delivery in maternity and pediatrics departments and support clinical skills training at the university.
Despite recent progress, Uganda’s maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high. According to the 2022/2023 National Annual Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) report, the maternal mortality ratio has improved from 336 deaths per 100,000 live births (UDHS, 2016) to 189 per 100,000 live births (UDHS, 2022). Neonatal mortality has also decreased from 27 to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births over the same period.
However, too many women and newborns are still dying, with hemorrhage identified as the leading cause of maternal deaths. The donated equipment is expected to help in addressing these critical gaps in care, directly contributing to the prevention of avoidable maternal and child deaths.
Arua, Lira, and Mbale (RRHs) serve over 10.6 million Ugandans, along with patients from neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
Dr. Andrew Twineamatsiko, program manager at Seed Global Health, who led the handover to the partners, said, “Providing essential equipment ensures that health workers have what they need to deliver quality care and meet the needs of their patients.”
Dr. Mulowoza Jude, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Mbale RRH, added, “This donation will allow us to apply our skills more effectively and deliver higher quality care to mothers. We are confident it will lead to better patient outcomes.”
Dr. Andrew Odur, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Lira RRH, highlighted that the much-needed baby warmers and phototherapy machines arrived at a crucial time for the hospital.
“This equipment will help our health workers perform better. We value the continued partnership with Seed Global Health and will work as a team to improve outcomes in all our maternal and newborn units,” he noted.
Dr. Alex Andema, Director of Arua RRH, appreciated the donation and said, “We will ensure that the equipment is distributed to the maternity, pediatrics, and emergency wards and put to good use to enhance service delivery to patients.”
Meanwhile, Busitema University received simulation lab equipment to support the practical training of students. Joshua Epuitai from the university’s nursing department praised the value of simulation in healthcare education: “Simulation is key to training healthcare workers. Students can touch, feel, and relate to real-world clinical practice. The equipment we have received will greatly enhance their learning experience.”
Professor Dan Kibuule, the Dean of the faculty of health sciences at Busitema reflected on the importance of collaboration.
“In today’s world, collaboration is key, and as a university we are keen on building strategic partnerships. Collaborations like the one we have with Seed Global Health enable us to train health professionals who will provide excellent service to the community,” he said.
Seed Global Health partners with hospitals and universities to educate healthcare workers, improve quality of care, and strengthen health systems. To date, over 9,000 health workers have been trained across nine sites, contributing to the reduction of Uganda’s healthcare workforce shortage and enhancement of the capacity of the health system to meet the needs of the population.
