By Eriah Lule
infant mortality rate in 2023 will be 39.171 deaths per 1000 live births, a 3.430% improvement from 2022’s rate of 40.564 deaths per 1000 live births. The progress is a positive sign, but there is still more work to be done to improve maternal and child healthcare in the country.
Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Save the Mother’s Organisation is a key player in the fight for safe motherhood in Uganda. Their efforts to train professionals from various fields are contributing towards reducing maternal and child mortality rates, leading to better health outcomes for mothers and children in the country.
Save the Mothers’ 2023 annual conference was held in UCU’s Nkoyoyo Hall, with the theme “Re-Imagining Safe Motherhood, Post-Pandemic: The Role of Save the Mothers.”
Dr. Jean Chamberlian, a co-founder of Save the Mothers and a Canadian obstetrician and gynecologist, highlighted the urgent need to prioritize safe motherhood. She emphasized that advocating for safe childbirth practices is critical for ensuring the safety of future generations, especially during pandemic recovery. As community pillars, it’s our responsibility to prioritize the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns.
She urged communities to promote the adoption of mother-baby facilities in communal health centers. She says that this can improve maternal health outcomes and ensure that mothers and newborns receive the care and support they need.
“Covid hit us, but we as the community still had bigger challenges to address, especially safe motherhood,”, she said “As we are recovering from the pandemic, we should as well make safe motherhood a priority within our communities”.
Dr. Jessica Nsungwa Sabiiti, the Commissioner for Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, praised Save the Mother for promoting safe motherhood. She also announced the government’s new initiative, Human Capital Development 2060, aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes through education, healthcare, and nutrition.
The program is aiming at having a skilled and productive population, which can’t be achieved if it’s the focal point. Safe motherhood is not paid attention to.
According to Nsungwa, all this can’t be achieved if the country doesn’t have people who are devoted to safe motherhood, to which Save the Mothers has tirelessly devoted itself over a period of time.
“If government programs are to run, we need organizations like Save the Mother’s that can produce professionals who can lead the forefront in implementing these programs”, she said. “I am always impressed by the work you do and the efforts of your alumni in making a change in the community “.
Her Excellency Robie Kakonge, the Ambassador of Uganda to the United States of America, expressed her gratitude for Save the Mother’s continued effort towards maternal health and vowed to bring on more countries to partner with Uganda to reduce maternal rates.
Kakonge further urged members to invest in innovative solutions that would help increase access to maternal health.
She urged Save the Mothers to spearhead the formation of a national association, an umbrella body that would have professionals and interested parties championing maternal health.
“With such a body, it’s easier to go far with a unified voice and work plan “, she said “It’s even easier to partner with the government since it’s confident that the body has professionals all over the country”.
Among the many activities, some of the alumni showcased their different research projects that they are doing in their communities to champion safe motherhood.
Dr.Miriam Mutabazi, the former Executive Director of Save the Mother’s and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at UCU, highlighted the need to setup a follow-up program for their alumni to see how best they can support them in some way possible in their different areas of service.
