Uganda marks safe motherhood day: Unite for safer maternal health

28 October 2024, 11:50 am

By Edwin Okurmu

As the country joins the rest of the world to mark Safe Motherhood Day, which is celebrated every 28th of October, all stakeholders, including government authorities, cultural and religious leaders, local leaders, parents, married couples, and NGOs, are called upon to join hands in the fight against unsafe motherhood. Unsafe motherhood claims the lives of hundreds of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum every year in Uganda, according to the Ministry of Health reports on maternal mortality from 2017 to date.

Speaking to our reporter about measures to promote safe motherhood in the country, Mr. Muhumuza Michael, the executive director HEYPI, a local NGO that advocates for good health in Nansana municipality, emphasised the importance of stakeholders playing their roles effectively. He advised men to always support their wives and encourage them to attend antenatal checkups during pregnancy. Mr. Muhumuza also urged pregnant women to seek these essential health services in a timely manner for the sake of their own health and the well-being of their unborn babies. Additionally, he called upon the government to provide better health services closer to the people and emphasised the need for increased heath sensitisation through available media platforms to enable informed decision-making on health-related matters.

In a related development, Nakanga Cissy, a councilor at Nansana division council, advised Village Health Teams (VHTs) within their communities and across the country to consistently encourage pregnant women to visit nearby health centers for medical services and checkups. She also urged couples to end gender-based violence in their homes and embrace safe motherhood practices.