COVID-19: Ambulances get fuel to transport expectant mothers

HEALTH  COVID-19  

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued fuel vouchers worth sh67.6m to fourteen districts in the Northern and West Nile regions of Uganda to facilitate ambulances transporting expectant mothers to health facilities so they can deliver safely, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Uganda on March 21, the government issued strict guidelines to contain the virus, among them, banning of public transport and private vehicles and banning boda boda's from carrying passengers.

With this kind of guidelines, many expectant mothers have struggled to access maternity care due to challenges with public transport. 

As a result, there has been a sharp decrease in the number of women delivering from health facilities, putting them at risk of experiencing complications during delivery, and even death.

According to the District Health Information System, total deliveries in Acholi region have reduced from 12,406 in January to 3582 in March. 

"In this difficult time for all, let's do everything in our power to ensure that mothers are able to access skilled health care while giving birth and also keep their newborns safe," said Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Representative in Uganda.

An estimated 5,400 babies are born in Uganda every day, according to countrymetres.info. 

Amidst the growing COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to stand firm and ensure the health and dignity of mothers, ensuring safe births, everywhere.

UNFPA is supporting districts in Northern and West Nile regions of Uganda to address the second delay that leads to maternal deaths - the delay for a mother in labour to reach a health facility due to lack of transport or failure to afford the cost of transportation; as well as the third delay in receiving adequate health care due to inadequate referral systems and lack of medical supplies.

The emergency obstetric care support programme was launched early this week by the LC5 Chairperson of Koboko district Hassani Nginya, who is also the overall West Nile Leaders' Forum Chairperson.

The support also includes facilitation for district leaders and technical staff to provide the necessary support supervision for lower local governments. 

Local Council (LC) 1 Chairpersons and Village Health Teams (VHTs) will ensure that all pregnant women in their area are registered, monitored and supported to access essential maternal health care services.

Health Centre staff including clinicians and midwives have also been supported to provide the necessary care and follow up before, during and after obstetric management and referral.

"We thank UNFPA for this focused support and pledge that the intended beneficiaries will be served," said, Dr Denis Oloya, the District Health Officer (DHO), Koboko.