Pastor Martin Ssempa
IN 1996 and 1997 my wife and I lost two babies to miscarriages. The experience was horrifying and brought my wife to the brink of death.

The bleeding, the poor medical facilities, old technology — to sum up the whole medical experience, reminded me of pre-World War 1 film.

Holding my wife in my arms; attending funerals of our babies who died because they reportedly “got tired during birth” created a desire in our hearts to stop this carnage.

In 1998 and 1999 we went to the US to have our next children and the quality of care for the expectant mother set a desire in my heart to see that happen in Uganda. The fetal monitors constantly offered critical surveillance on the baby’s condition even while still in the womb.

The mother was also treated carefully.The ratio of staff, equipment and attention per mother was far much higher than in Uganda.

One of my church members, who was a student intern at the Mulago paediatrics department, shared with me challenges of the hospital that I had not known.

I learnt that midwives were trying to do great work withvery little resources. They were overworked, underpaid, understaffed and had to help deliver up to 60 to 75 babies everyday.

Sometimes they did not have the basics such as razor blades, or gloves; yet expectant mothers continued to flow in. There was need for a private-public partnership where we could contribute.

The Midwife of the Month Award was created. The women are doing a great job under difficult circumstances. I want more people to come on board, including business owners and wellwishers.

There are many hospitals that need this kind of motivation. I want the awards to expand from Mulago to Nsambya, Mengo, Rubaga, Kibuli and upcountry hospitals.

As told to Arthur Baguma