Kabale scribes launch maternal health campaign

Media practitioners in Kabale district on Monday launched a campaign to promote maternal health in the district.

The move started with a walk from Kabale Main Stadium to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital where they donated items such as rice, sugar, soap and milk to the mothers in the maternity ward.

The chief guest of the event, Andrew Baryayanga Aja, the Kabale Municipality MP also donated 30 blankets to the maternity ward in addition to the media contributions.

Baryayanga hailed the media for considering maternal health promotion on top of their journalistic roles.

"We have always looked to the media for information, entertainment and education but with this new campaign for safe motherhood, we hope to realize more positive results," said Baryayanga.

He further appealed to the media to continue spreading the message aimed at good health promotion among the residents of the area.

"Our people deserve a more proactive solution to the existing health challenges especially in our rural areas. With the continued messages we hope that the media will help us in realizing this cause," said Baryayanga.

The event was organised under the theme "Encouraging More Women to Deliver in Hospital to Reduce on Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates".

Kabale Hospital administrator receiving blankets from Baryayanga. Photo by Job Namanya

Duncan Twesigye, the initiative chairperson said they started the move after realizing that most maternal and infant mortality rates come as a result of mothers who do not attend maternal services from hospitals.

"We choose this approach to ensure more women giving birth from hospitals and we believe that if it is adhered to more women will be able to have safe motherhood," said Twesigye.

Twesigye said the campaign will also see journalists look for more ideas in maternal health from the concerned stakeholders.

David Tibamanya, the Kabale Hospital administrator said that some mothers find it hard to get the necessary resources to sustain them in the hospitals thereby opting for local measures.

"In some communities, people find it hard to go to hospitals but with this campaign we hope to see an increased number of mothers in hospitals," said Tibamanya.