Stanbic Bank Donates Maternal Health Equipment to Mpuggwe Health Center III

Patients and health workers at Mpuggwe Health Center III in Masaka City are set to benefit from improved maternal health services following a donation of essential medical equipment worth shs.25 million from Stanbic Bank Uganda.

The donation, part of the bank’s ongoing Corporate Social Investment (CSI) efforts, includes three delivery beds, two oxygen concentrators, and 100 fully stocked Mama Kits, items identified as critically needed by the facility to support maternal and emergency healthcare.

Mpuggwe Health Center III serves more than 10,000 people from surrounding villages such as Mpuggwe, Matanga, Kadduggala, Kinyerere, and others.

It also provides crucial support to the overstretched Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, which sees an average of 2,000 patients daily.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Stanbic Bank Uganda Chief Executive, Mr. Mumba Kenneth Kalifungwa, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting government efforts in delivering quality healthcare to Ugandans.

“This donation reflects our belief that a healthy population is essential for a strong economy. When people are healthy, they can work, save, invest, and grow. This strengthens the financial sector and supports Uganda’s broader development goals,” Mr. Kalifungwa said.

He noted that the intervention aligns with Stanbic Bank’s CSI strategy, which focuses on three key pillars that include, Education, Environment, and Health, with a special focus on women, youth, and farmers.

The donation also supports Uganda’s efforts toward achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Uganda’s maternal mortality rate remains high, with 189 mothers lost per 100,000 live births, although this marks an improvement from 336 per 100,000 recorded in 2016, according to Ministry of Health statistics. The bank’s intervention is seen as a step toward reducing these numbers further.

Ms. Victoria Nassolo, the in-charge of Mpuggwe Health Center III, welcomed the donation, describing it as timely. She revealed that the facility handles over 14,000 patients monthly, including 35 to 45 deliveries per day, and has been grappling with inadequate equipment and space.

“This support from Stanbic Bank comes at a critical time. We’ve been struggling with outdated equipment and overcrowding, which affects the quality of services we provide, especially to expectant mothers, the facility has been lacking delivery beds as we had only one and it was in a sole state and we never been with oxygen concentrators which has been making our work difficult in case we have a baby that needs oxygen and always we have been transferring them to Masaka regional referral hospital where most of the time reach when the situation has worsen,” she said.

Dr. Patrick Kasendwa, the Health Officer for Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, where the facility is located, also applauded the initiative.

He, however, called for further support to address infrastructure gaps, including insufficient ward space to accommodate men, women, and children.

“While it is government’s responsibility to provide health services, the need is overwhelming. We urge other partners to emulate Stanbic Bank and support our efforts in improving healthcare access for all Ugandans, because here when a patient comes in and needs to be admitted we cannot due to lack of ward and we used to put a canra and tell them to go back home and come back for their doses but in case he/she needs a dose at 3 am what should we do," Dr. Kasendwa said.

The ceremony was also attended by Masaka district leaders, officials from Stanbic Bank’s head office and local branches, and representatives from the Ministry of Health. Masaka Resident City Commissioner, Hajji Ahmad, praised the bank’s gesture, calling it an exemplary act of corporate citizenship.

“This is what partnership looks like. When the private sector complements government efforts in such a tangible way, lives are saved,” he said, urging the community and facility management to safeguard the donated items.

The medical equipment is worth shs25 million.