Promote and practise safe motherhood
Sep 22, 2011
According to studies, every year 536,000 women in the world die from pregnancy related causes. Majority fall in the sub-sharan Africa.
According to studies, every year 536,000 women in the world die from pregnancy related causes. Majority fall in the sub-sharan Africa.
In Uganda, maternal mortality is one in 25. Mothers are still at high risk during pregnancy and children still face frightening odds after birth.
As we look forward to celebrating safe motherhood in Uganda in November, we need to reflect on what has been done and what must be done to make sure all mothers and children enjoy save motherhood.
Mothers still face high maternal and child birth deaths which need to be reversed. Mothers lack access to contraception, resulting into unsafe abortions. There is still lack of skilled assistance and emergency care at health centres. The youth lack knowledge and opportunities and this exposes them to childbirth related deaths.
Women’s rights are grossly violated because tradition dedicates that men control household incomes. Women’s health expenses are not a priority.
The good news is that Uganda is committed to achieving an overall reduction of 30% of maternal and newborn mortality of the 1990 levels by 2015 according to the MDGs.
Education of women, mothers, their partners and children on practising simple health practices like regular check ups to help keep both the mother and child safe is important.
Encouraging mothers to seek family planning services to facilitate child spacing makes pregnancy and child birth safe. There is need to involve the opinion leaders and social networkers in communities to buy in family planning since they influence women in communities.
Health centres need to be mother-child friendly, have basic kits in case of emergencies.
Health communicator
In Uganda, maternal mortality is one in 25. Mothers are still at high risk during pregnancy and children still face frightening odds after birth.
As we look forward to celebrating safe motherhood in Uganda in November, we need to reflect on what has been done and what must be done to make sure all mothers and children enjoy save motherhood.
Mothers still face high maternal and child birth deaths which need to be reversed. Mothers lack access to contraception, resulting into unsafe abortions. There is still lack of skilled assistance and emergency care at health centres. The youth lack knowledge and opportunities and this exposes them to childbirth related deaths.
Women’s rights are grossly violated because tradition dedicates that men control household incomes. Women’s health expenses are not a priority.
The good news is that Uganda is committed to achieving an overall reduction of 30% of maternal and newborn mortality of the 1990 levels by 2015 according to the MDGs.
Education of women, mothers, their partners and children on practising simple health practices like regular check ups to help keep both the mother and child safe is important.
Encouraging mothers to seek family planning services to facilitate child spacing makes pregnancy and child birth safe. There is need to involve the opinion leaders and social networkers in communities to buy in family planning since they influence women in communities.
Health centres need to be mother-child friendly, have basic kits in case of emergencies.
Health communicator