When midwives turned to mobile phone light to save mothers

Finding options. With most of the health facilities lacking adequate personnel and the required medical equipment, most affected people -- the peasants -- decided to take control of their development affairs.

“We are aware of the challenges in most of these villages. VBCs have done a good job and because of their pressure and interactions, so many things have been fixed,” Winifred Busingye, the Kabale District Community Development officer, said in an earlier interview.

James Mugisha, the assistant Chief Administrative Officer, told this newspaper that some of the district’s budget, worth about Shs35 billion, would be dedicated to improving the health centres, Kyego being one of them.

Although Mr Mugisha argued that sometimes the VBCs demands are misdirected, citing a case where they make duty bearers explain why a road managed by UNRA (a government road) is not in good shape, he has overall appreciated the work of the women and men who voluntarily work to ensure government resources are not mismanaged.

“VBCs supplement our work. And I think without them there will be a gap created,” he said.
Origin of VBCs
The VBC concept was developed by FOWODE to promote gender accountability from grassroots to the national level.

To date, the rural communities and its leadership agree that it has transformed lives and provided space for communities to interrogate and debate the local government planning and budgeting process.

Three VBCs have been established in Kabale, Kibaale, Kibuku, Napak, Amuria, Amuru, Kotido, Kitgum, Abim, Busia, Lyantonde, and Masindi District.
Luwero, Mityana, Wakiso and Gulu also have the groups.

Each club is composed of 20 members, 12 of whom are women, who have been mobilised and trained in gender budget monitoring and service delivery tracking within the community.
The trainings equipped them with knowledge and skill to begin questioning how resources are mobilised and allocated and whether the allocation criteria address the needs of poor women and men in that particular community.
iladu@ug.nationmedia.com