SHORTAGE of clinic cards in Mvomero district, Morogoro has forced pregnant women to make a copy and buying an exercise book for their clinical records.
The pregnant women in Wami-Dakawa village are forced to make a copy of a single available clinic card so that their clinical proceedings are recorded while in Hembeti village they buy exercise books.
Ms Leah Yohana (27), a resident of Wami-Dakawa is among pregnant women who use the photocopied clinic card, and complained on the unclear seen words.
A photocopy of a pregnant woman clinic card which was held by Ms Leah Yohana (27)
“I have been using this card for my clinic proceeding records, and it’s not seen clear I can’t read anything, and things are just filled without testing,” she said.
Ms Yohana is seven-month pregnant and has two other children, she works as a farmer.
Ms Rehema Mfaume (24), is another resident of the village using the copied clinic card and said we either pay 200/- for a copied card or make a copy from a stationary.
The Enrolled Nurse and Public Health Nurse of Dakawa Dispensary, Ms Margreth Yapesa confirmed the situation and said it has been a long period they don’t get the clinic cards for women pregnant and the children.
The Dakawa Dispensary maternity ward
“We don’t have the cards since last year April. We are told that they are not available and that’s why we are forced to make copies,” she said.
While showing the photocopied clinic card, Ms Yapesa added that in the beginning, they were asking women to pay 200/- per person for a photocopied clinic card, but they have now changed the system.
“Because of their refusal we now ask them to go make a copy by themselves,” she said.
The Dakawa Councilor, Mr Yusuph Makunja said that he doesn’t know if there is shortage of the clinic cards and promised to make follow ups on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Hembeti Dispensary lacks clinic cards for pregnant women for three months now and women use exercise books.
The Medical attendant of the Dispensary, Ms Felista Lupala also said that they available clinic cards are for children while for pregnant women are not available for the last three months.