By Sr. Petronella Mutamba, Kasama CNCS Hub

The Sisters of the Child Jesus have opened a private health facility, the Little Flower Mother and Child Clinic, in Kasama, Northern Province, to provide medical services focused on mothers and children.

Speaking during the official opening, Sr. Elizabeth Mutamba, Superior General of the Sisters of the Child Jesus said the clinic was established to help people in the area and beyond access medical services and reduce the high costs of traveling long distances for quality care.

“As we inaugurate this Little Flower clinic today, let it be a place where healing meets hope, where every patient is treated with dignity and where our collective efforts bring change to society,” she said.

She added that the facility will concentrate on mother and child health services and is especially significant as the congregation approaches its 100-year anniversary.

“So in the years that we have served the people, we thought of adding another facility to help the community access the much-needed medical services,” Sr. Elizabeth said.

And Kasama District Director of Health, Dr. Charles Chungu said mother and child health remains a critical government priority, noting that maternal and prenatal deaths have been declared a public health emergency.

“You will be interested again to know that maternal and prenatal deaths have been declared a public health emergency. All resources must be mobilised to support the health of mother and child to prevent deaths and illnesses in our communities,” Dr. Chungu said.

He said the clinic’s focus on mother and child health will improve district health indicators by bringing services closer to communities.

“So having a facility primarily focused on mother and child health is exciting for us because our mothers and children will access services right near their doorsteps,” he said.

Dr. Chungu also commended the longstanding collaboration between faith-based organisations and the Ministry of Health.

“This collaboration, demonstrated by our presence here, shows that we will continue to work together to provide health services to the community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Rodgers Fikwamo, Vicar General, said the clinic is expected to grow and attract patients beyond the airport community, including residents of Kasama District and surrounding villages and towns.

“I wish this facility protection and support so that it will continue to grow and become what the congregation envisions for its future,” he said.