The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has inspected the ongoing construction of a modern maternal and child healthcare wing at Mbarara Health Centre II in Kitoba Sub-County, Hoima District. The project aligns with EACOP's Socio-Economic Investment Pillar – Community Health and Safety, focusing on improving the social and economic well-being of communities along the pipeline. This initiative aims to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in the region.
Mbarara Health Centre II has been a crucial regional lifeline, serving a catchment of over 10,000 people across 16 villages. However, the rapidly growing population has overwhelmed the facility, and community access to specialized maternal care has been a severe challenge. The nearest Health Centre III is located more than 20 kilometers away, with limited road infrastructure, making it difficult for expectant mothers to access quality maternal healthcare.
EACOP partnered with the Hoima District local government to establish a modern maternal wing built to Ministry of Health guidelines. This project is a vital step toward upgrading the facility to Health Centre III status. The new facility will bring critical maternal and surgical services closer to the people who need them most, addressing challenges such as distance, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of specialized services.
During the site inspection and official launch event, EACOP's Managing Director, Guillaume Dulout, emphasized the transformative nature of the project. He stated that the project opens doors to safer motherhood, improved healthcare outcomes, and renewed hope for thousands of families in the region. The new facility will help address maternal health challenges by providing quality care closer to the community.
EACOP also handed over 200 Mama kits to address urgent maternal health challenges in Hoima District. Each kit contains essential items such as cotton wool, plastic basins, gloves, and baby bedsheets. The donation originated from an International Women's Day initiative and a company-wide internal campaign, where EACOP employees committed to walking or running a minimum of 100 kilometers each to support the project.
EACOP's HR and Corporate Affairs Director, Eileen Baguma, noted that the donation of 200 Mama kits is a significant gesture, supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). The intervention contributes to the global target of accelerating the decline of maternal mortality by 2030. The facility in-charge, Aweko Grace, commended the team for their timely support, describing the donation as a lifeline that has restored dignity and efficiency to maternal care services at Mbarara Health Centre II.
The project directly supports the achievement of SDG 3, specifically contributing to the global target of accelerating the decline of maternal mortality by 2030. By tackling local healthcare disparities, EACOP's initiative brings critical maternal and surgical services closer to the community, improving healthcare outcomes and reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Key points
- EACOP donates 200 Mama kits to address urgent maternal health challenges in Hoima District.
- The new maternal wing at Mbarara Health Centre II is built to Ministry of Health guidelines.
- The project supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), specifically contributing to the global target of accelerating the decline of maternal mortality by 2030.
