LASPNET JOINS CAMPAIGN TO END MATERNAL DEATHS

21 May 2018 -

Written by Laspnet

On 15^th May 2018, LASPNET joined women activists led by the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative (EASSI) convened at the NGO Forum offices in Kansanga for a press conference to demand for urgent intervention by government to end the increased deaths of mothers and newborns during pregnancy, child birth and immediately after child birth. They dubbed the action as a movement to end maternal deaths in Uganda.

This followed the death of Nuliat Nambaziira, a women rights advocate working with EASSI who passed away on May 4^th ,2018 at International Hospital Kampala, from complications related to child birth. The activists were joined by Hajji.Abbas Semujju, the husband of the deceased who was filled with raw anguish at the loss of his wife. The complications which according to the women activists, are preventable in nature range from severe bleeding, high and low blood pressure, infections, obstructed labour, unsafe abortions and fistula, among others.

Nuliat was among many women who have in the recent past died from similar circumstances, cutting short their young lives to the detriment of their children, families and country at large.

Speaking during the press conference, Hajji. Abbas Semujju said he was pleased to join the effort to save future mothers from falling victim to the same fate.

Ms.Sheila Kawamara, the Executive Director of EASSI said they were considering legal action to ensure accountability from IHK and seek justice for Nuliat and other mothers.

Ms.JoyAsasira from the Center for Health Rights and development (CEHURD) called for realistic solutions to the health care system as opposed to importing cuban doctors, who would also be unable to work without the necessary amenities such as gloves.

Ms.Faridah Luyiga from the White Ribbon Alliance also narrated how her sister died at the same hospital due to negligence.

The campaign named “Not another needless death” and aimed at saving mothers and their babies at birth demanded that government through the Ministry of health and other relevant agencies improve supervision of private and public health facilities to ensure better adherence to the quality of care standards.

The activists also marched to IHK where they staged a peaceful protest to put the hospital on notice and demand for accountability for their colleague’s death. The hospital directors were not available to provide an immediate response and the security personnel did not allow the activists into the premises.

The movement recommended for government to do the following:

Conduct maternal death audits and publish reports of all health facilities, including public and privately-run institutions to ensure that they have adequate facilities and personnel to handle pregnant women, mothers and babies at birth
Discipline negligent health workers by withdrawing practicing certificates from incompetent health practitioners that have caused deaths or maimed mothers out of negligence
Increase resourcing for maternal health and post midwives and doctors to rural hospitals to improve service delivery, and;
Increase monitoring ad inspection of private and government health facilities to address the critical issues affecting women for instance, lack of essential materials