The residents of Kupera Payam of Lainya County in Central Equatoria State have received a maternity ward at the Jamara Primary Health Centre PHCC after it was handed over to them on Tuesday.
The Jamara PHCC, which caters to patients from Wuji and Kupera Payams of Lainya County, Ajio Payam of Kajo-Keji County, Panyume and Yaribe Payam of Morobo County, as well as Pakula Payam of Yei River County, has been operating without a maternity ward.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Mary Gayi the chairperson of the Kupera Women Association appreciated the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and Lainya County government for addressing women’s health challenges there.
Mary said the facility will help women to deliver and receive medical services in a safe environment without traveling long distances to receive medical services in Yei and Lainya towns.
“We are very happy and we can now sleep in peace because we suffered being mixed with men to receive medical care. I can tell you that with this new and nice-looking building, women and children in Kupera, Wuji, Payume, Yari, and Pakula can be admitted here and receive medical services in this new maternity ward,” she noted. “I am sure we can no longer go to Yei for medical services and we can only go there for further referral medical services.”
Mary calls on the government and health partners to deliver more beds, mattresses, and more health workers to the health facility.
Meanwhile, Charity Dudu, the medical officer in charge of the facility said service delivery at the new maternity ward has started and it is open to all.
“It is a big building which has accommodated all the departments. We have been longing for this facility because we lacked space but now we are happy the facility is open and operational and currently we offer antenatal care, admission, delivery, family planning, and health education services,” she said.
For his part, Julius Luate, Lainya County health director said the maternity is a big relief to the suffering women and local population in Lainya, Yei, Morobo, and Kajo-Keji communities.
“The facility has been opened and it is going to benefit not only the people of Jamara but also people in Wuji, Kupera, and people from the neighboring Kajo-Keji, Payume in Morobo, and Pakula in Yei counties. The facility is for everybody and I urge the community to participate and keep the facility clean,” the health director said.
Jamara PHCC was constructed by Ajepo Construction Company and was funded by the UNHCR under the “Pockets of Hope” project and contributions from the local community to improve access to basic health services to the communities there.