Kosike Women Petition District Council, Citing Dangerous 8km Journeys to Access Maternal Healthcare

Posted on: 2025-11-21 15:37:55

KARAMOJA, UGANDA – Women in Kosike Sub-County, Nabilatuk District, are taking formal action to demand a local health facility after revealing the life-threatening challenges they face accessing maternal healthcare, including giving birth on the roadside. The call to action was a key outcome of a community meeting on service delivery and climate justice held on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

During the Citizen Engagement Meeting, organised by the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) and its local partners KHH, r-PIDO, and ATEDO, women from the community voiced their struggles to the local Woman Councillor. They detailed how the absence of a nearby clinic makes it difficult to complete mandatory immunisation schedules and essential antenatal care visits. The most alarming concern raised was the dangerous 8-kilometre journey to Nabilatuk Health Centre IV. According to the report, “Some of the women end up giving birth on the way,” a stark illustration of the urgent need for local services.

The Woman Councillor for Kosike Sub-County, who was present at the meeting, acknowledged that the need for a health facility has been raised in council meetings before, but no progress has been made.

In a significant move to empower the residents, the Councillor volunteered to lead the process of drafting a formal petition for a Health Centre III. She will coordinate the effort and provide crucial assistance, as the women who raised the issue at the meeting were unable to read or write.

This initiative is a powerful example of the citizen voices in action, bridging the gap between community needs and political leadership to drive tangible improvements in service delivery.