IEC materials on life-saving commodities developed

By Francis Emorut

World Vision Uganda (WVU), in consultation with the Ministry of Health, have developed information education communication (IEC) materials aimed at scaling up the uptake of life saving commodities.

The IEC materials also include information on child health and reproductive health issues so as to curb teenage pregnancies and save lives of mothers and children.

This will help in combating child and maternal deaths when appropriately applied .

The IEC materials have been designed inform of  brochures, flyers  and DVDs and they are handy as can be pocked.

Examples of IEC messages are; why should women and children die from preventable causes? female condom, emergency contraception, Oxytocins, Zinc and resuscitation devise, misoprostol, increase access to lifesaving commodities for women and children among others.

Esther Nasikye Child Health Now coordinator at World Vision Uganda noted that the simplified IEC materials are meant to guide lawmakers to join efforts with other stakeholders to combat child and maternal deaths.

Nasikye explained that this can be achieved through increasing uptake of live saving commodities (LSCs) in the country.

She was speaking during the dissemination meeting on LSCs organised by World Vision Uganda in conjunction with the Ministry of Health  in Kampala last week.
 

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A participant airs out her thoughts during the dissemination meeting. (Credit: Francis Emorut)

In 2010 the UN Secretary General's global strategy for women's and children's health called on the global community to save 16 million lives of women and children by6 2015.
 
Lives saving commodities are 13 medicines in a continuum of care which addresses critical areas of reproductive health, newborn health, child health and maternal health.

According to Dr. Olive Sentumbwe the WHO family and reproductive health advisor it is critical to increase the uptake LSCs to fight teenage pregnancy as well child and maternal deaths.

She also called for training of health workers to do proper prescription and blamed mothers for abdicating their role in educating young girls about reproductive health and leaving it to teachers.

Dr. Christopher the KCCA's medical official who is also the president of Uganda Medical Association called for concerted efforts to create awareness about the life saving commodities in the country.

Lorna Muhirwe World Vision Uganda official advocated for increased budget specifically for reproductive health to reduce child and maternal deaths.

Participants agreed with consultants who presented papers on health budget analysis and advocacy to strengthen advocacy efforts in causing government to budget of health to 20% of national budget.