Construction of the facility is being supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is part of the 60 Billion Shillings Northern Uganda regional referral hospitals improvement project.
The artistic impression of the neonatal intensive care unit being build by JAICA and Uganda Government at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital - Photo by Dominic Ochola
Construction of a neonatal intensive care unit at Gulu Regional
Referral Hospital has started.
Construction of the facility is being supported by the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is part of the 60 Billion Shillings
Northern Uganda regional referral hospitals improvement project.
The project aims to strengthen hospital functionality by providing
facilities and equipment to Gulu, Lira and Arua Regional Referral Hospitals in
Northern Uganda, and improve the quality and access to health services in the
region.
According to Dr James Elima, the Hospital Director the facility will
have a maternity wing, theatres and a casualty ward.
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A 2019 data by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
- UNICEF revealed that 226,000 babies in Uganda are born too soon each
year and 12,500 of them under five years die due to direct preterm
complications.
The data reveals that essential new-born that includes; drying, warming,
exclusive breastfeeding, hygiene and cord care, as well as basic neonatal care,
can mean the difference between life and death for premature babies.
The major causes of neonatal deaths in Uganda like in other
Sub Saharan African countries include; pneumonia, tetanus, diarrhoea, premature, and birth asphyxia as well as low utilization of health services
during pregnancy and childbirth.
World Health Organization (WHO) statistics indicate that 15 million children
born worldwide every year are preterm cases with sub-Saharan African countries
including Uganda most affected. Uganda ranks 13th out of 184 countries with
highest number of babies born early and 11th for new-born deaths due to preterm
birth complications.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
