Jinja City Deputy Speaker Sirina Kyakuwaire has launched a fundraising campaign with residents to purchase a modern ultrasound scan machine aimed at improving access for mothers who cannot afford such services in private health facilities.
Kyakuwaire noted that most ultrasound machines in Jinja’s public health facilities experience frequent breakdowns, leaving pregnant women with limited options. Residents have shared stories highlighting the impact. Hadiya Nambi said that scan services cost between UGX 25,000–30,000 per visit, an amount she could not afford during her pregnancy.
Nambi delivered a premature baby three months ago, a complication she attributes to lack of timely scan services that could have detected fetal anomalies early. Another woman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she was unable to access scans in time, resulting in the delivery of an overweight baby that caused deep vaginal tears and led to a fistula.
She is now scheduled for corrective surgery at a forthcoming medical camp next year. Midwife Salafina Namumbya emphasized that ultrasound scans are critical for safe motherhood, allowing early detection of potential risks to both mothers and unborn children. She noted that many women, particularly those with multiple previous pregnancies, often skip scans, assuming past successful deliveries guarantee safety.
Namumbya advised expectant mothers to undergo at least two scans and called for such services to be accessible even at Health Center III-level facilities. Kyakuwaire said the modern ultrasound machine costs approximately UGX 25 million. She has so far raised UGX 3 million through public meetings, where community members contribute amounts as small as UGX 500, supplemented by online fundraising appeals.
An accountability committee has been established to manage the funds, and once sufficient resources are collected, the machine will be donated to a health center in Jinja City, providing accessible services to underprivileged mothers.
