Kabarole: Stanbic Bank Uganda, in partnership with Busaiga SACCO, has extended critical support to Nyantabooma Health Centre III in Kabarole District with a donation of essential maternal health equipment and the organisation of a free medical camp that attracted hundreds of residents from Harugongo Sub-county.
The donation, valued at UGX 20 million, was officially handed over during a ceremony at the health facility located in Nyantabooma Central.
The support is part of Stanbic Bank’s broader national strategy aimed at strengthening community health systems, particularly maternal and child healthcare, in alignment with the Ministry of Health’s priorities.
Among the donated items were a modern centrifuge, two foetal Dopplers, two oxygen concentrators, four blood pressure machines, five Littmann Classic II stethoscopes, and 200 mama kits.
These are expected to ease the burden on the facility, which serves over 17,000 outpatients annually and handles around 200 antenatal cases and 50 deliveries each month.
While addressing guests at the event, Mr. Tunde Thorpe, the Executive Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank, said the bank’s commitment goes beyond philanthropy and is rooted in a long-term vision to empower communities through health and financial inclusion.
“This donation is not merely a gesture of goodwill; it embodies our purpose: ‘Uganda is our home; we drive her growth.’ Maternal health lies at the heart of this mission, and we believe no woman should face childbirth risks without access to dignity and essential medical tools,” said Mr. Thorpe.
He further emphasised that the initiative is driven through the bank’s Employee Community Initiative Programme, a platform through which Stanbic staff across the country champion social impact projects.
Dr. Moses Gumisiriza, the in-charge at Nyantabooma Health Centre III, welcomed the donation, describing it as timely and critical in addressing the community’s growing healthcare demands. He revealed that the medical camp held alongside the donation served 350 patients, with various health services offered.
“We conducted cancer screenings for 23 mothers, tested 100 individuals for diabetes and blood pressure, and screened another 100 for HIV. This comes at a time when the teenage pregnancy rate in Harugongo stands at 27 percent, the highest in the district. We are grateful for this support, which will reduce the number of referrals to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital,” Dr. Gumisiriza said.
Speaking at the same event, Mercy Kusemererwa, the general manager of Busaiga SACCO, hailed the partnership with Stanbic Bank as a model of how corporate entities and community-based institutions can work together to enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
“Our collaboration with Stanbic Bank in supporting Nyantabooma Health Centre III reflects our shared commitment to community well-being. Healthy communities are the cornerstone of sustainable growth, and we are proud to contribute to transforming lives through improved healthcare,” she noted.
Since 2021, Stanbic Bank has donated over 22,000 mama kits and medical supplies to 85 health facilities across Uganda. Mr. Thorpe reaffirmed the bank’s pledge to align with global development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those focusing on good health, gender equality, and effective partnerships.
He also acknowledged the role of cultural institutions in community transformation, praising His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV for championing socio-economic progress in the Tooro Kingdom.
Godfrey Musumba, chairperson of Harugongo Sub-county, called on residents to utilise the newly acquired medical equipment to minimise avoidable travel to distant health centres.
“The fear of being referred to faraway hospitals due to lack of equipment is now behind us. Our facility is now better equipped to attend to antenatal cases and handle safe deliveries,” Musumba assured the community.
Dr. Brian Kisembo from the Kabarole District Health Office advised residents to embrace preventive healthcare practices, stressing that most illnesses can be avoided through simple hygiene and nutrition measures.
“About 70 to 80 percent of the cases we see at health facilities are preventable. If households adopt proper sanitation and post-harvest handling practices, the burden on our health system would reduce significantly,” Dr. Kisembo said.
The event highlighted a growing need for collaborative approaches between public and private actors in Uganda’s health sector, with emphasis on reaching under-resourced communities through targeted interventions.
