NML Issue 11
NMLTT
2021
Protect.
Invest.
Together.
8
MOTHERHOOD, LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND Article as published in New Vision October 28 2021 Re-printed with permission from the author: Mr. Martin Lubega Pregnancy and childbirth are special events in every woman’s life, and, indeed, in the lives of their families. To many, these may be moments full of hope, excitement and joyful anticipation. However, this can also be a time of fear, suffering and even death for many women and newborns. We must be reminded that pregnancy is a normal stage for every woman, not a disease although it is associated with a number of risks that threaten the health and life of both the woman and the unborn baby. These risks exist in every society and in every setting. In the developed countries the risks have been largely overcome by ensuring that every pregnant woman has access to quality health care services during pregnancy and childbirth. Such is not the case in many of our developing countries including Uganda where pregnancy continues to end the lives of many women across the country while others walk through with serious morbidities affecting their physical and sociocultural functionality. Over years, Uganda has registered great milestones in creating a health care system that is responsive to the health care needs of women and children based on the six core pillars of safe motherhood. These include Family planning, antenatal care, obstetric care, post-natal care, post-abortion care and control of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. The government of Uganda and its development partners have invested resources in improving access to quality maternal and child health care services for all women all throughout pregnancy as a strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is worth noting that between 1971 and 1986, Uganda’s health care system suffered unprecedented setbacks due to poor leadership and internal conflicts. Therefore, the NRM government inherited and embarked on rebuilding a shattered health care system. For example, by 1988, Only 37% of pregnant women would deliver at health facilities; 3% of the women were using modern family planning methods; only 38% of children received full immunization and the maternal mortality was at 527death for every100,000 live births. Despite the existing challenges in the health sector today, there is free access to basic and emergency maternal and child health care services in public health facilities across the country. The maternal and child health indicators have also greatly improved. For example, by 2016, over 73% of the women were having deliveries from health facilities, under-skilled health workers, the childhood immunization coverage is reported at 99%, over 35% of the women are using modern family planning methods and the maternal deaths have gone down to 336 deaths per 100,000 live births.
8
