St Francis Nsambya Hospital,Rotary District 9213 in partnership with Mama Toto Care Uganda ,Bulamu Health Care and Seed Global Health have graduated the first cohort of health workers trained in comprehensive in service Newborn Care training in Kampala.
Rotary District Governor Geoffrey Martin Kitakule said the graduation marks the completion of 4 weeks of intensive, hands-on training for health workers from 9 districts across Uganda.
“The training was implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, with technical delivery provided by Bulamu Healthcare. It is designed to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare services and reduce preventable newborn deaths,’he stated.
“Each trained health worker represented an investment of approximately UGX 6 million, reflecting the project’s commitment to building sustainable clinical capacity within Uganda’s public health concerns;”Kitakule added.
The training is part of Rotary “Empowering Families, Growing Futures ” project funded through a $ 551,000 grant from The Rotary Foundation to be implemented across 31 high-volume health facilities, including 16 Health Centre IVs and 15 Health Centre IIIs across 14 districts.
Businge Richard Director Maternal and Newborn Bulamu Healthcare said for this first cohort, the Ministry of Health has worked closely with District Health Offices, with support from Rotarians, to identify beneficiaries who will remain within their districts to support peer learning and knowledge sharing among fellow health workers.
“While this marks the graduation of the first cohort, preparations are underway for additional cohorts from the remaining beneficiary facilities to participate in subsequent trainings at other designated sites;”he stressed.
Dr Andrew Twinematsiko Program Manager Seed Global Health said in addition to Comprehensive Newborn Care, the project will support clinical mentorships and WHO-recommended trainings including:- Essential Newborn Care (ENC) and Helping Mothers Survive (HMS)
“These trainings equip frontline health workers with evidence-based, life-saving skills to reduce preventable maternal and newborn mortality;”he stressed.
He further said the initiative is jointly implemented by 45 Rotary and Rotaract clubs across Uganda organized in 10 cohorts, each adopting at least 1 district, with support from Rotary districts in the United States of America and Taiwan.
Dr Victoria Nakibuka Neonatologist from.Nsambya Hospital said through this investment in health worker capacity is strengthened , partners reaffirm their commitment to ensuring mothers and newborns receive quality care and that preventable deaths are reduced across beneficiary communities.
“The Comprehensive In-Service Training in Newborn Care a month-long, Ministry of Health-certified capacity-building program equips front line health workers with advanced practical skills in newborn care, with major focus on premature, low birth weight, and complicated newborns,”she said.
According to her roughly 226,000 babies are born premature in Uganda annually, and about 12,500 children under five die directly from these complications.
Tumusherure Apohia one of the trainees pledged to use the practical knowledge she has attained from the training to better health service delivery in Kabale District but urged Rotary International partners to scale up the training programme to rural areas and equip health centres to improve health care to the population.
Rotary International is a global network of volunteer leaders and professionals who provide humanitarian service, promote peace, support education, and improve health. Rotary clubs identify community needs and implement projects ranging from disease prevention and maternal health to water, sanitation, education, and economic empowerment.
