THE absence of a health dispensary in Masunula Village, Usule Ward, Shinyanga District, has raised concern among residents after a pregnant woman was forced to give birth in a nearby bush while being rushed to a health facility in a neighbouring village.

The woman was being taken to Igalamya Dispensary when she went into labour, highlighting the challenges faced by pregnant women and other residents who must travel long distances to access medical care.

Lucia Kusigwa, a traditional birth attendant in Masunula Village, recounted the incident during a public rally organised by Itwangi Member of Parliament Azza Hamad to address community grievances.

“Honourable MP, I arrived late to your meeting because I am a traditional birth attendant and was called to assist a woman who went into labour on her way to Igalamya Dispensary,” Kusigwa said. “She didn’t make it to the facility, and the baby was delivered in the bush.”

Kusigwa said both the mother and child survived, although the mother developed health complications following the delivery.

She said the incident demonstrated the urgent need for a nearby health facility capable of providing timely maternal and child healthcare.

Residents said the lack of a dispensary in the village exposes pregnant women and children to unnecessary risks, particularly when emergencies occur and patients have to travel long distances to reach health facilities.

Responding to the concerns, Hamad acknowledged the healthcare shortage in Usule Ward and urged residents to begin construction of a dispensary by taking the project to the lintel level.

She pledged to finance the roofing once construction reaches that stage, while the government would be responsible for completing the remaining works and equipping the facility.

Hamad also disclosed that she had formally petitioned the government to upgrade Igalamya Dispensary into a health centre.

She said the upgrade would help ease pressure on Tinde Health Centre, which is located farther from many residents in the area.

Residents welcomed the proposed interventions, saying a nearby and adequately equipped health facility would improve access to maternal and child healthcare and reduce the risks associated with delayed treatment and long journeys to medical facilities.