SPONSOR A NURSE

On December 1st 2003 the Kabubbu Parish Health Centre opened.

It is being well used by up to 60 patients a day - 18,000 a year - and has been established as the immunisation centre for the area by the District Director of Health Services. It has a laboratory to carry out diagnosis for AIDS, typhoid, malaria and other tropical diseases plus two additional rooms for maternity delivery and aftercare.

The nurses are conducting a wide range of health education including an antenatal and postnatal programme. This is vital in a rural community. Why?

Tradition has it that a mother must give birth within the confines of her house, usually a mud hut with a mud floor and in very unsanitary conditions. Immediately after birth the placenta is buried in the ground around the house as a means to ensure the child will remain at home to look after the mother in her old age. Unfortunately few children do so.

It takes a great amount of education to convince mothers to use the more sanitary delivery and aftercare facilities at the Health Centre.

Among its five nursing staff are two who are trained midwives and one is a trained counsellor in sexually transmitted diseases, something vital in a rural area. There are needs for additional nursing staff.

A nurse's salary is about £1,800.

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