Stanbic Bank has donated an assortment of medical equipment worth UGX 65 million to Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH) to enhance maternal healthcare services and improve the well-being of mothers and infants.
For the last four years, the bank has designated October as the L.O.V.E. Month, during which it celebrates its customers and engages in activities that give back to the community. KNRH has been one of leading beneficiaries.
The hospital is a 200-bed capacity located in Kampala, Kawempe Division and according to sources it has the busiest labour ward in Africa, delivering on average 80 babies in 24 hours and performing at least over 10 major operations (Laplatomies) everyday.
Speaking during the handover, Dr. Byaruhanga Emmanuel Kayogoza, the hospital Executive Director said, “We have so many banks in the country, but Stanbic Bank stands out as far as Safe Motherhood is concerned. On a daily average, we have 60 deliveries. That is 60 mothers delivering and so on average, we add more than 60 babies because some of them have twins, others have triplets. That’s about 80 babies per day.”
Dr. Byaruhanga said, “The biggest challenge we have in this hospital, apart from space congestion and all that, is equipment, the staff are very skilled. They know what to do. But without equipment, they are incapacitated. So if you have a baby with birth asphyxia, you need a CPAP, the other machine that helps the lungs not collapse. You need a ventilator sometimes when the lungs cannot, this child cannot breathe on their own.”
The equipment included Radiant Warmer, LED phototherapy machine with FLUX meter, Patient Monitor(5 parameter) complete with wall mounted stands accessories for cardiac monitoring Heavy Duty suction machines-low pressure, ICU bed, Infusion pumps, Syringe Pumps and Oxygen flowmeters-Heavy Duty wall mounted.
Paul Muganwa, the Stanbic Bank Executive Director and Head, Corporate & Investment Banking said, “It was great to see that the small contributions Stanbic have made are making a big difference. For example, something as simple as curtains to create privacy. And when I saw that, I put a word to what I was feeling. There is dignity in this hospital. Your patients have dignity and that’s not the case everywhere in Uganda.”
He said, “Our predecessors came here. They saw what you are doing and they felt compelled to support and to continue to support. I can assure you, from the conversation I had with the directors, we are challenging ourselves on how can we do more? We recognize your efforts and we applaud them.”
Dr. Isaiah Chebrot, who represented the KCCA Director of Public Health, appreciated Stanbic Bank for doing a tremendous job in supporting government programs.
“There’s a connection between Stanbic and mothers here. You’ve supported and this is just true testimony that your love for mothers continues. I want to appreciate you for that,” he said.
Patrick Semanda, the Stanbic Kawempe Branch manager said, “Kawempe Hospital, you’re doing a great job. I also feel proud that we are adding value and we are transforming Uganda because this is our home.”
