By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
HEALTH
In March, a month dedicated to celebrating International Women’s Day, the Ankole Local Matenal and Neonatal Systems (LMNS) launched the Safe Birth Awareness campaign under the theme: “Safe Birth for Healthy Mothers and Babies Our Collective Responsibility.”
The campaign aims to address maternal health challenges and promote quality care for mothers and newborns.
During the launch that was hosted by the department of Obsetrics and gaynacology at Mbarara regional referral hospital at the MUST pharmacy theatre building, Dr. Musa Kayondo, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, highlighted the pressing issue of unnecessary referrals from nearby health centers, with over 1,500 cases reported where 40% originating from Mbarara City HCIV. He urged the Ministry of Health to address these challenges, citing reasons like lack of water, electricity, and even doctors attending parties as causes for referrals.
Dr. Waswa Salongo emphasized the need for better facilitation for specialists at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital to conduct site visits and support supervision. He proposed forming a committee to train health workers at lower facilities, noting that complications often arise due to inadequate examination and history-taking by staff. He noted that there are 15 specialists at Mbarara regional referral hospital but they are not facilitated to do support supervision.He tasked the hospital director to provide a budget for the specialists to carry out such activities.
Associate Professor Joseph Ngonzi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, called for administrative meetings between the Ministry of Health, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital director and local government officials to reduce minor case referrals. He stressed the importance of accountability at lower health centers, ensuring specialists focus on critical cases.
Dr. Mugyenyi Godfrey, Chairperson of the National Safe Birth Committee, outlined the campaign’s goals: promoting safe delivery, raising community awareness, improving healthcare access, and empowering families through education. He introduced the “Five Safes of Safe Birth” which include; safe environment, safe hands, safe delivery, safe anesthesia, and safe referrals. Addressing anesthesia-related deaths, he emphasized the care plans starting from preconception.
Dr. Mugyenyi also advocated for quality antenatal and intrapartum care, urging health workers to ensure skilled birth attendants handle deliveries. He called for action against unqualified clinical officers running maternity centers without midwives and condemned abusive practices in maternal care, including physical abuse and detention over unpaid bills.
Chandi Baku Agnes, Commissioner of Nursing and Midwifery, urged health workers to prioritize politeness and availability, especially when attending to pregnant mothers. She emphasized the importance of respectful and dignified care, aligning with the campaign’s mission to uphold mothers’ rights and freedoms.
