On black kaveras in Kitgum hospital and sustainable growth

Victoria Nyeko

What you need to know:

  • Demands. While at the hospital a mother came in, distressed at the onset of labour. She was asked two questions by the doctor: 1) Are you in pain? To which the answer was yes, and 2) where is your black kavera?

Recently, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) celebrated Tarehe Sita in Kitgum District. Although the celebrations started on January 29, the main function was held in Kitgum Town on Wednesday, February 6. The theme was, “UPDF and the people: Consolidating peace for sustainable development and prosperity”. The guest of honour was President Museveni, who is also the commander-in-chief.
I travelled to Kitgum for the celebrations. By 9am, people had come in their thousands and an hour later, the President arrived accompanied by First Lady Janet Museveni.

At about 2.24pm, the President delivered his main speech which focused on infrastructure development like the tarmac roads from Kampala, Gulu to Kitgum.
However, among the key issues that the crowd was hoping would be addressed was education and health. But the President stated that on this occasion these issues would not be addressed. For many people, the condition of the hospitals and schools in northern Uganda is already known.

Some people in the crowd had hoped that the improvement of the children and maternity wards in their hospital would be mentioned since the weekend before it was discussed on radio, with promises made of making it better.
Instead, the President delivered a long speech followed by awarding of medals in recognition of the various contributions from the local population. Throughout the function some people kept wondering why the President was unable to talk about education and health.

That evening, a few of us decided to visit the government hospital to assess the situation and also make small contributions to the maternity and children’s ward. We were received by a doctor who was able to spare a few moments to talk to us about some of their challenges.
For the previous two weeks, he said, the hospital had not had any running water or electricity. He added that it could have easily been months had it not been for the President’s visit for the Tahere Sita celebrations.
The doctor further explained that while their expectations were to receive drugs every quarter to last about three months, they only receive one month’s supply.

While at the hospital a mother came in, distressed at the onset of labour. She was asked two questions by the doctor: 1) Are you in pain? To which the answer was yes, and 2) where is your black kavera?
When we enquired about what the kavera was for, we were told that hospitals of today are not like those of the past where the very basics were provided by government. Expectant mothers have to provide mama kits which contain plastic gloves, razor blades and other items for the medical staff to use while attending to a woman giving birth.

The black two-metre kavera an expectant mother brings is usually laid on the floor or bed on which she gives birth. Government is no longer in position to provide the basics as it once did 20 years ago.
In Kitgum, and possibly many different parts of Uganda, if expectant mothers have to take their own kavera’s on which they give birth in a government hospital, where then is the sustainable development?