Kitagwenda Medical Center

With 70% of doctors practicing in urban areas where only 20% of the population lives, the health coverage in rural areas is much worse for many Ugandans. 

It is estimated that there is only one doctor for every 22,000 people. Programs are in place to train community health workers, called Village Health Teams, that operate at the local level, but coverage has still been limited to solve many more complex problems. 

The Uganda Ministry of Health conducts annual surveys that assess health system performance, and these have shown significant shortcomings in availability and quality of service. Patients complain about poor sanitation, a lack of prescription drugs and equipment, long wait times, rude service, and inadequate referrals. This inaccessible and limited care discourages patients from seeking out professional care, especially in rural areas with longer travel times. This is especially true for rural women, and particularly women who are of reproductive age. 

In Uganda, mothers are dying at an alarming and increasing rate. Uganda's Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) has consistently been one of the highest in the world with 440 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to UNICEF. 

Marianne Foundation has partnered with the Global Development Group, Denis Langley Foundation, and the Kitagwenda Medical Center to address the above issues through supporting the completion of the health center and supporting family planning and women's health outreaches, connecting Village Health Teams and our medical staff with the community. Our main focus is to increase family planning outreach and maternal health care to serve the surrounding rural villages and communities.