Through the Japan’s Grants Assistance for grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), Bwindi Community Hospital (BCH) located in western Uganda, Kanungu district extended its maternity ward and received medical equipment to promptly handle deliveries.

The New maternity ward was commissioned on 18th/ Nov/ 2011 by H.E Kazuo Minagawa, the mbassador of Japan to Uganda. “With the new facility now completed, expectant mothers will have easier access to the professional medical services at Bwindi Community Hospital and maternal mortality rate in the district will be reduced.” H.E Kazuo Minagawa said.

Bwindi Community Hospital in November 2010 received funding from the Embassy of Japan in Uganda worth $ 102,190 equivalent to over UGX 227M to expand its existing maternity ward .This enabled increase in the number of beds from current 21 to 40 with a larger delivery, postnatal and post Caesar wards, bigger waiting area and more private rooms.

The funding also helped in acquiring of more equipment such as delivery beds, oxygen concentrator, vacuum concentrator, delivery sets and Caesarean sets among others that will enable the hospital deliver better services to women in the area and consequently help reduce the maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the area.

“Kanungu district has a considerably high maternal mortality rate due to its high practise of traditional home deliveries.” H.E Kazuo added. Bwindi Community hospital (BCH) conducts more than 100 deliveries a month of which 30% are referral cases from other units.

BCH is a Private -Not – For Profit hospital founded under the diocese of Kinkizi. It began as a mobile clinic in 2003 mainly to address health issues of the then displaced Batwa Pygmies. It has since grown both in infrastructure and service and was accredited by Ugandan Ministry of Health as a hospital in 2009.

The hospital offers a wide range of services in disease prevention and treatment with a vision of having a healthy and productive community free from diseases and with excellent health care services accessible to all.

At 112 bed capacity, the hospital now employs 114 staff including one specialist in Public Health and another in Child health. There are 4 Full time Ugandan doctors. “None of the staff is supported by government under the public-private partnership for health arrangement.” Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, the hospital Medical Superintendent said. BCH is the only facility in Kanungu district with incubators for care of premature newborns.

Ranking
BCH has been ranked by Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB) as the best service provider for the last 3 consecutive years. BCH has also been ranked the best health service provider in Africa and Middle East by the STARS Foundation and the health Impact award will be presented to the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Birungi Mutahunga on the 24th November 2011 at the British academy, London.

The hospital has also reached the second round of the last 12 best HIV care providers out of 266 participants in a worldwide assessment by the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID). If announced winner, BCH will receive another award on the World Aids day, 1st December, In the Netherlands.