By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
MITOOMA
In Uganda, expectant mothers in a hospital, are required bring their own basic medical birthing supplies like gloves, Mama Kits, a razor blade and other hygienic items critical for the health of the mother and new baby. However, the cost of attaining these items alone can be overwhelming which limits access to adequate healthcare.
Many mothers who cannot afford to buy these supplies have been forced to give birth at home which puts their lives and the life of their unborn babies at a risk of both life and death leading to maternal deaths.
To address this challenge, the Ruhinda South county member of parliament hopeful Brenda Atuhaire on Friday 8 March, 2024, launched a “Mama Kit for Her” campaign that strives to improve maternal healthcare in the constituency.
Launched under her initiative, Atuhaire Foundation, the project seeks to provide free Mama Kit packages to pregnant mothers in Ruhinda South one way of improving maternal healthcare in the area and ensuring both safety of the mothers and newborn babies. The project launch was in Mayanga subcounty, Ruhinda South, Mitooma district.
Shortly after the launch ceremony, the MP hopeful, Brenda Atuhaire proceeded to Ryengyereero Health Center III where she and her team gave a donation of beautiful Mama Kit package of new baby essentials, like blankets, soap, and other birthing supplies required for delivery. At least 130 women including expectant mothers benefited from her one-day women empowerment talk.
According to Brendah, giving women better access to maternal healthcare in Ruhinda South with the gift of a Mama Kit is a great contribution to improving maternal healthcare and reducing maternal deaths.
According to UNICEF, “More women and children survive today than ever before. Despite strong progress, however, every 11 seconds, a pregnant woman or newborn dies somewhere in the world – deaths that can be prevented using skilled care before, during and after childbirth.”
The Ruhinda South MP hopeful, Atuhaire argues that the campaign and other ambitious plans for the people of Ruhinda South when sent to parliament, come 2026, will aid to change the statistics and give mothers and babies a healthy, safe start to life.
She however decried the understaffing and poor working conditions in health facilities saying many health centre IIIs in the area and across the country have one trained midwife, a gap she pledged to address once elected into parliament.
She also pledged to revisit Ryengyerero HCIII soon to do more donations including a water tank. Atuhaire said the Mama Kit for Her campaign will be rolled out in all sub-counties in the area.
