Suubi Medical Centre (SMC) is located in Busu village, Iwawu parish, Bulamagi Sub-county, Kigulu County in Iganga District, approximately 140 kilometers from Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Iganga District lies within Busoga sub-region, which is coterminous with the Kingdom of Busoga, one of the monarchies in modern Uganda. The traditional language of Busoga is the Lusoga language, which is widely spoken. The district has an estimated population of 466,200[1] people with 80% of the population living in the rural areas and engaged in subsistence farming. The surplus produce finds ready market locally in the urban areas and in neighboring area markets as the major economic activity. Small scale trading is another economic activity especially around the trading centers.
However, poverty is still rampant and about 46% of the people live below the poverty line. The district[2] has got 81 functional health units of which 58 are government aided and 23 are operated by Non Government Organisations. According the district records, construction of 70% of the Health units has been put up through community participation and of these a good number requires completion. All health units need renovations.
The major prevalent diseases in the district are preventable and include: malaria, urinary tract infections, respiratory diseases (flu and cough), and HIV/AIDS. The HIV prevalence rate is at 8% above the national level of 6.5% while illiteracy among the populace is at 43%, most of whom are women, making them among the most vulnerable and marginalized group. According to the 2002 population census, Iganga district has a median age[3] below 14 years with 54% of the population aged 0-14 years. The district also posted the highest age-dependency ratio of 133% implying that more people are dependent on a few who are economically active. Despite improved pupil enrollment, the quality of Uganda’s Universal Primary Education initiative remains low. The challenges in education are currently being addressed by the government and complimented by a number of non-governmental organizations.
[1] Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS), 2010 population estimates
[2] District Information portal: Health Summary as at August 2011
[3] The median age is the age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups.
We will also need medicines and other supplies but our immediate need is for the money to complete the building. We currently have a new block we need to finish which will have a small Laboratory, a delivery room for mothers and a kitchen area. This is half done now but needs to be completed.
Problem statement
Like all the other rural villages in Uganda, Busu village is a community with varying but interrelated needs; a robust and diverse list of social and economic challenges. The vision of SMC arose out of a need to address the escalating health issues and dismal health statistics. SMC is aiming at addressing the challenges of access of quality and affordable medical services.
In many villages of Uganda, one in every ten children dies before the age of five. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that only 10% of under-five children sleep under an Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs), while over 30% do not receive anti-malarial drugs when they have a fever. Malaria transmission occurs all year round in most parts of Uganda.
The fertility rate in Iganga is 8 children per woman since only about 24% of the population can access contraceptives. Only 42% of births are attended to by skilled health personnel. This also means that 1 in every 35 women has a lifetime risk of dying from child birth related complications. Amongst the rural populations in Uganda, only 49% use improved sanitation facilities.