MTN Uganda Foundation over the weekend donated hospital equipment to Oriajin Hospital based in Arua as part of its Access to Health Care initiative project. The donation is said to benefit hundreds of patients from the West Nile region and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who frequent the hospital.
The hospital received 20 hospital beds, 20 mattresses, 20 blankets and 20 mosquito nets from the foundation.
The handover is part of various corporate social responsibility efforts MTN Uganda has carried out through the MTN Uganda Foundation. MTN Foundations UGX500 million Access to Health Initiative CSR project aims to impact needy hospitals across the country.
MTN Uganda’s Senior Manager Corporate Affairs, Ms. Justina Ntabgoba was delighted with the work done by Oriajin Hospital in provision of quality health care in Arua since its inception in 1984.
“We are happy to see that Oriajin Hospital is playing a huge role in the delivery of health and medical services to thousands of people in the West Nile region. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), good health and well-being which targets access to quality essential health-care services is an essential part of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Ms. Ntabgoba.
Justina added that the donation is the company’s way of encouraging the management and staff of Orijuan Hospital that their work is very important.
“You touch lives every day and may our contribution today be a boost to your work,” she said.
MTN Uganda Foundation Manager Mr. Bryan Mbaasa said that the donation was a small gesture in appreciation of this hard work with the hope that more lives will be impacted.
“Our CSR programme Access to Health Initiative aims at providing hospital equipment to various needy but strategic hospitals across Uganda such as Orijuan Hospital. Access to Health Initiative was built on the premise that access to hospital equipment is essential in ensuring quality healthcare for Ugandans,” he said.
On hand from MTN Uganda was the MTN Foundation staff including its Portfolio Manager Mr. Nelson Munyanda accompanied by regional staff of the telecom company led by the RBM James Ndyamuhaki. MTN Foundation was impressed by the level of commitment by the management and staff of Orijuan Hospital.
MTN sponsored Onduparaka Football Club, based in Arua, was on hand to witness the ceremony. The Club players were led by Robert Ajiku who commended MTN for its generosity for Ugandans out of the central region.
“We commend MTN for being a good corporate citizen. Your sponsorship of our football club and your return to Arua to ensure that one of our key hospitals efficiently delivers its services is highly appreciated. As OFC, we remain your proud ambassadors in West Nile,” said Robert.
Low bed capacity in health centers results in people sleeping on the floor, which is often uncomfortable and below the minimum standards for health care. According to a 2012 report from Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET-U) on the state of regional referral hospitals in Uganda, most facilities and equipment in these hospitals countrywide are in a state of disrepair. Bed capacity in hospitals and health centers is still low resulting into overcrowding and poor quality care of inpatients.
Arua District Health Officer Dr. Anguzu was represented by Medicines and Supplies Inventory Manager, Margaret Bayoru as the Chief Guest. Dr. Bayoru noted that MTN’s donation was timely and the first in the region.
“MTN’s donation will undoubtedly boost service delivery at Oriajin and the community. As you may have noticed, we have been grappling with poor facilities to host our patients and doctors’ accommodation for a long while now. The level of morale has been noticeably low in the past, but this is starting to look up now. If it is not too much to ask, consider improving transportation in the area by donating an ambulance to this community,” said Margaret.
Dr. Margaret decried the dependence of the residents on traditional healers and encouraged them all to adopt proactive health seeking behavior at the established hospitals. She pledged the District’s support to all donors.
The MTN Foundation Access to Health Initiative is aimed at improving the quality of health care in Uganda. This is in line with Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals that aims to achieve “Good Health and Well-Being” for all.
The Initiative will see 500 hospital beds, 500 mattresses, 500 blankets and 500 nets be given out to hospitals around the country through the Ministry of Health. At the moment, 230 beds, mattresses, blankets and nets have been delivered so far.
