New mothers’ health worries district chief
Mar 30, 2008
THE limited access to health services by expectant mothers in Lira is worrying the district director of health services, Dr. Peter Kusolo.
By Robert Okodia
THE limited access to health services by expectant mothers in Lira is worrying the district director of health services, Dr. Peter Kusolo.
“There are very few maternity homes for expectant mothers to deliver from and this has resulted in high maternal mortality in the district. Most pregnant women die before reaching health centres,†he said.
Kusolo added that expectant mothers should visit a health centre at least four times or even more before delivery but noted that some mothers visit only once for antenatal care and in most cases too late.
He was speaking last week during a meeting to discuss reproductive health and advocacy organised by Maries Stopes Uganda in Lira town.
According to Kusolo, the lack of adequate maternity facilities in the district was to blame for rampant death of expectant mothers.
He called upon the Government to set more health centres.
Alex Bagora, the manager of Reproductive Health Access to Information and Service in Emergencies (RAISE) project, said the five-year programme intends to improve the provision of comprehensive reproductive health services to the conflict-affected people in northern Uganda.
He noted that according to a survey conducted last year in northern region, the rate of teenage pregnancies was found to be very high.
Bagora urged the Government and community based organisations to show more commitment and action in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of communities in the north.
THE limited access to health services by expectant mothers in Lira is worrying the district director of health services, Dr. Peter Kusolo.
“There are very few maternity homes for expectant mothers to deliver from and this has resulted in high maternal mortality in the district. Most pregnant women die before reaching health centres,†he said.
Kusolo added that expectant mothers should visit a health centre at least four times or even more before delivery but noted that some mothers visit only once for antenatal care and in most cases too late.
He was speaking last week during a meeting to discuss reproductive health and advocacy organised by Maries Stopes Uganda in Lira town.
According to Kusolo, the lack of adequate maternity facilities in the district was to blame for rampant death of expectant mothers.
He called upon the Government to set more health centres.
Alex Bagora, the manager of Reproductive Health Access to Information and Service in Emergencies (RAISE) project, said the five-year programme intends to improve the provision of comprehensive reproductive health services to the conflict-affected people in northern Uganda.
He noted that according to a survey conducted last year in northern region, the rate of teenage pregnancies was found to be very high.
Bagora urged the Government and community based organisations to show more commitment and action in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of communities in the north.