The Executive Director of the United States of America and President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative chief, Lois Quam has arrived in Uganda on Monday.
Lois Quam is in Uganda for a one week visit to support Uganda’s Ministry of Health’s effort to reduce maternal deaths by at least 50% in four western districts of Uganda by the end of this year.
According to the programme, Lois will tour the districts of Kabarole and Kyenjojo. Research shows that Kabarole and Kyenjojo are among the districts in Uganda where cases of maternal mortality are rampant.
The ministry of Health in Uganda recently released a report that indicated that the the common causes of death among pregnant women in Uganda are over bleeding, infection, obstructed labour, abortion and hypertension. Other causes of death among pregnant women in Uganda are malaria related diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 435 maternal deaths for each 100,000 live births. On daily basis at least 16 women/girls die during delivery.