Civil Society Call for Increased Funding to Lower Maternal Mortality

A number of stakeholders on Wednesday converged at Parliament to dialogue on how the maternal health care can be improved to save the many mothers who die in the process of delivery.

This was in commemoration of the International Maternal Health Day under a theme “Rights Based Approach to Maternal Health in Uganda”

Discussion revolved around issues of preventing bleeding, infections obstructed labor, unsafe abortion and hypertension diseases which have been prominent in maternal mortality in Uganda.

Several speakers reminded government to prioritize the budget allocation of the health sector, to avoid wasteful expenditures and also to avail maternal health commodities and services in hospitals.

The Chairman Board of Directors at Center for Health Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Prof Ben Twinomugisha urged legislators to demand for accountability from government on how far it has gone to institute measures to address the maternal mortality in Uganda as passed in a resolution passed in parliament in 2011.

“Government should increase the budget for health scores they have put a target of 15% and ensure that adequate money is put to critical maternal such as labor and delivery care. When we call for an increase in budget, we must find out how much money is directly put to health issues rather than workshops and seminars,” Twinomugisha said.

MPs including Aagon Silas of Kumi municipality, Herbert Kinobere among others hinted on the laxity in supervision of government hospitals, the hiked costs of delivery, motivation of midwives among others all leave a gap in service delivery hence risking the lives of mothers.

The Civil society organizations used the dialogue to petition Parliament in demand for the implementation of a resolution that was passed by the House on December 15, 2011 urging government to institute measures to address Maternal Mortality in Uganda and other matters incidental thereto.

Parliament had resolved that government through the Ministry of Health strictly enforces maternal health audits and take actions to the established causes.

In addition, Parliament resolved that government develops a policy of compensation to the families of all women who die as a result of maternal related cases through government facilities.