This happened yesterday during the commemoration of the international maternal health day under a theme: “Rights Based Approach to Maternal Health in Uganda.”

During the dialogue, preventable maternal issues such as bleeding, infections obstructed labor, unsafe abortion and hypertensive diseases as key at claiming the mothers’ lives at the time of giving birth were discussed.

The activists also used the opportunity to remind government to prioritize the  budget allocation of the health ministry, avoid wasteful expenditures and avail maternal health commodities and services in hospitals.

The civil society used the same opportunity to petition parliament to demand for accountability from government on how far they have gone to institute measures to address the maternal mortality in Uganda as passed in a resolution passed in parliament in 2011.

Prof. Ben Twinomugisha, the chairman board of Directors at center for Health Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) urges.

MPs including Monica Amoding of Kumi district, Aagon Silas of Kumi municipality, Herbert Kinobere among others noted the laxity in supervision of government hospitals, the hiked costs of delivery, motivation of midwives among others which all  leaves a gap in service delivery hence risking the lives of mothers.

In a related development the District Health Officer at  Kyankwanzi District, Dr. Serebe John Bosco attributes the poor health services to the pregnant mothers to the attitude by the health workers, midwives in particular.

Serebe noted that though challenges that limit good service delivery to the mothers exist, mid wives too need to check the care they give these expectant mothers.

He said that although most of the midwives have skills, they have continued to act desperately when attending to mothers hence in the process, some lose their lives.

In her response, Mary Adong, a mid-wife at Mulago Hospital-Kawempe branch decried the workload midwives face which,in most cases, leads to their loss of composure in front of patients.  She thus called upon government to recruit reasonable number of mid wives to help in the noble cause of saving lives of mothers.

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The statistics released by George Kawage, a senior statistician with Uganda Bureau of Statistics, during the dissemination seminar of findings from the Uganda Demographic and health services survey for Kigezi region held at White Horse Inn Hotel in Kabale Municipality.

The survey also indicated that in Kigezi region, 14 percent of women give birth from private health facilities, 56percent opt for public health facilities as only one percent give birth from other unidentified places.

The 2016 Uganda Demographic and health services survey is the 6th conducted in the country since 1988 as part of the Demographic health survey program. The survey is designed to provide estimates at the national level,Urban and rural areas in each of the 15 regions in the country.

Dr. Asaph Byamugisha a medical officer with Rukungiri district local government condemned the practice of some women giving birth from their homes and described the practice as unfortunate.

Byamugisha said that delivering from homes puts mothers at risks of heavy bleeding, retaining of the placenta which can in turn lead to loss of life. He added the practice also increases the risks of HIV spread to newly born babies.

Byamugisha advised women in the region to always embrace delivering from health facilities for their well being and for the well being being of their babies and families in general.

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This came barely few days after the pan African Parliament resolved to compel African governments where FGM is being practiced to put more emphasis on ending this practice which violating girls rights girls rights .

Kadogo who is also the woman mp for Buyende district says that the Female genital mutilation passed into law in 2009 has failed its implementation for relying on politicians.

She says that the politicians have refused to guide their people to abandon Female genital mutilation practice hence rise in this practice in areas of sebei and karamoja sub region.

Female genital mutilation  is practiced by 1%  of Uganda’s population and among specific ethnic groups namely the Sabiny in Kapchorwa, Bukwo and Kween districts, the Pokot, Tepeth and Kadam in Nakapiripirit and  Amudat district within the Karamoja sub region.

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Nakaseke Area Mp Paulson Luttamaguzi

Reports show that the patients of this disease are in Nakaseke hospital where government established an isolation unit. Lutamaguzi said that the people in the area are worried that the disease was taken to the area through nets which were distributed to them by government. He asked government to intervene into this matter and sensitize the public on how to protect themselves from this disease.

The government chief whip Ruth Nakabirwa Sentamu said that will inform the Ministry of Health about the out break so as mass sensitization carried out .

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When you are first starting out in a long term relationship, you never imagine it will be so hard to get along. As time goes on, you begin to see predictable patterns of behavior that can either complement each other or tear you apart.

There are some major differences between men and women that, when you look at them separately, understand the reaction and behavior that results from them, and can let your better half be your better half. These are the major differences that if you can just accept and learn to let go.

Men can only focus on one thing at a time, whereas women can multitask. If you give a man more than one task, he will either have ten projects started and never finished, or he will only do one at a time.  Women, on the other hand, can work on ten different projects at once. They can go from one task to the next and pick up where they left off with ease.

Problems can arise when a guy turns inward rather than being able to deal with multiple problems at once. When he becomes muddled down with something, he is unable to see anything else that is going on around him. Even if the kids are crying and falling, he can just sit at the computer and not notice anything else.

It’s important to realize that he most likely isn’t doing this on purpose. He’s just not wired to pay attention to everything going on around him when he’s engrossed and working on another project.

Men show love, whereas women voice love. When a woman is in love with someone, she can’t stop talking about it. A guy is not the same. When he is in love with a woman, he won’t tell everyone around him. Instead, he will do things for her.

Not knowing how to voice their own emotions, men often get quiet in response. If you realize that a woman is wired to communicate in a verbal way, while a man is wired to protect and help the lady he loves, that will make it much easier to spot the signs of love on both ends.

Men are typically visual creatures when it comes to sex ,women not so much.Most women get very offended to find that their man has been blowing up their computer watching porn. No matter how much a guy insists that he doesn’t watch it, he does. Men are very visual creatures when it comes to sex. They need to fantasise more than most women do, and become turned on by just seeing sexual acts.

Women are more focused on the emotional side of a sexual act. To get in the mood, they need a good mix of erotics and some form of emotional connection. Remember it isn’t that women don’t get excited by porn, but rather, they just need more than the visual experience.

If you want to stop the arguing about his porn-watching habits, try making your own sex tapes and send them to him. Likely, if you give him movies of you, he will get just as turned on watching you do naughty things as he does when he watches porn. If you want to get your woman in the mood, cover her with kisses and praise for all she does for you. Emotionally stimulate her.

Women are concerned about the emotions and feelings of others, whereas men are concerned about their hunger and basic needs. Women truely spend a good majority of their time worrying about their children, their husband, some person they read about in the paper, what their mother-in-law was trying to get at when she made the remark about her cooking. A guy worries about what he is going to have for lunch and whether his wife is going to be in a good mood so that maybe he can have sex.

A woman is always on edge, she believes that the weight of the world rests on her shoulders. In the reverse, a guy worries about very little. In fact, he barely looks at any situation unless it is right in his face. That can leave a woman feeling like she wants to explode on a guy for seemingly no reason at all.

Unfortunately, sometimes you have to have thick shoulders and realize she may need your help. As a woman, it’s important for you to understand that he isn’t upsetting you on purpose. He has no idea about all the nonsense that is going on in your mind. He can’t see the worry, or the stress that you’re constantly enduring.

Knowing why men and women do what they do, and trying not to ascribe intention to what your mate does can help you get along much better with your better half. Women can’t help the way that they are wired any more than men can, but by helping each other better understand your needs and wants in life, the two of you can certainly live in blissful harmony together.

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The world of healthy living starts with healthy eating. If you are willing to make a few small changes in your diet then you will be able to shed all those extra pounds.

Therefor here are some 10 ways that can help you choose a healthy living lifestyle by making small changes in your diet to help you loose weight.

Do not skip breakfast

If you are skipping your breakfast for the sake of losing weight then you need to really think again. Not having your breakfast actually intensifies your hunger. You will end up wanting more food than usual in your next meal. Follow a method of having the same meals every single day. Repeating the same meal helps you lose all those extra pounds. Your body also adapts more easily with the same nutrition that you are having. Include nuts and fruits like banana in your breakfast diet regime. So please remember not to skip your breakfast tomorrow.

Do some sit ups during commercials

When you are on a diet you need to at least help yourself.  Next time when you are watching your favorite show, keep the remote far from the reach of your hand. Next step is taking the time off during the commercial hours to do some more stretching. Do whatever that would make you feel light like simply skipping, dancing, or even moving up and down the stairs. Keep on pushing yourself until you run out of breath.

Learning how to say no to fatty food will also help you.

We all know the irresistible factor of all the creamy delicious foods we see at the bakeries. It is a bit tough to get rid of our sweet carvings instantly, but it is not altogether impossible. List your favorite food items and mark those items that you possibly cannot stay without. Now cut down one food item short of the list.

That way, week after week you will be able to cut down in your cravings one at a time. Your body will also be able to cope up with the changes. Now start including fruits, vegetables in your diet. Start slow and you will notice the difference soon enough.

Take the stairs

Most of us get too lazy to take the stairs. All thanks to the wonders of technology. Next time skip the lift if you seriously looking to lose weight. Take the stairs. You should at least be climbing stairs for two to three minutes every single day. It miraculously helps in losing more pounds than you could ever expect.

Walk as much as you can

Next time when you are on your shopping therapy do make sure to take walks alongside. Do this simple trick next time you go out. Do not park your car in the usual parking lot. Instead park it a mile away from where you are headed to. That way when you are getting back, you will get to walk that extra mile, sweat it out and lose some pounds.

Enjoy every bite

Enjoying and savoring every bit of what you eat curbs your hunger. When you sit down to eat do not gobble down you food. Instead start with a small bite and chew it down slowly taking your time. When you take the time to enjoy every bite, you tend to feel more satisfied and filled. Doing this routine won’t let you reach out for more food; instead you will be happy and contented.

Include fruits in your diet.

All the dieticians will ask you to include fruits in your diet and why not? Fruits are wholesome and healthy. Having fruits daily will not only improve your skin texture but will also keep your stomach and brain engaged. Including fruits in your diet and having it in small portions throughout the day will help you stay energized as well. Eating the fruits will keep you satisfied for longer hours.

Drink lots of water

Everybody knows the essentials of drinking water. It’s been tried and tested over the years that drink two cups of water before you start eating your meal will help you lose weight. It tricks your stomach into believing that your stomach is full and making you eat lesser than usual. So drink more water and stay healthy.

Treat yourself sometimes

Dieting does not mean starving yourself to death. Everyone is entitled to let their guilty take over them once in a while. Treating yourself to small treats once in a while won’t harm you. Just remember to keep certain limitations for the treats. Try to include food items that have not more than 150 calories.

Include fish in your diet

Having fish is very healthy. Skip the red meat and instead opt for fish. It is filled with Omega-3 properties that helps in boosting one’s memory and fight against inflammation in the body. It keeps you not only light but also keeps you satisfied for long hours together.

These are some of the few small changes that you can make in order to help you lose weight gradually . Small contributions each day makes up for greater changes, so take small steps every that will help you yield great results tomorrow.

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If you are one of those women too who are finding it really hard to lose weight, then this is the right article for you. We have delved into some of the common reasons why we find it a little harder to get rid of those extra pounds.

Sometimes women go overboard with healthy food

We all know that they key to losing weight is in simple mathematics. If you are burning more calories than what you are consuming, you will be losing those pounds. In order to achieve that goal, most of us start eating healthy. when you start to eat very healthy food with out controlling the portion, you will not lose weight.

All those nuts and avocados are no doubt filled with good fats but not controlling the portion size will actually lead to more troubles. Concentrate on the serving sizes to ensure that you are having the right amount of calories.

You have a sluggish thyroid

Many of you are blissfully unaware that you might have an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism). When this happens, it will severely disrupt your metabolism and you may find it much harder to lose weight. There might be other associated problems too like fatigue and hair loss and the best treatment would be to get your thyroid fixed. It becomes much easier to regulate weight once that is done.

PCOS(Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) might be wreaking havoc with your system

Another one of the common problems that most women suffer from but are unaware of, PCOS creates havoc with your hormones and there is a prevalence of male hormones in your system. As such, you might gain weight suddenly and might find it harder to get rid of. Consult your doctor when you see male pattern balding, or you might feel that you are getting a lot of acne and there is inexplicable weight gain. It might be an onset of PCOS.

You are not sleeping enough

The key to losing weight in a healthy fashion is to get enough sleep. If you are exercising a lot, your muscles need a lot of recovery time. As such, you need sleep for at least 8 hours for proper recovery. Even in case of non-exercising adults, a good night’s sleep is essential and crucial for the proper functioning of the body.

Some of your medication can also be blamed

Any kind of pills that we have might have a side effect for example family planning medication and as such, we may end up gaining weight. Certain allergies which require steroids might lead to unnecessary weight gain. In such a case, you should go visit your doctor and ask them for another medicine which can be an alternative to your prescribed one. If not, you will have to be extra careful of what you are eating and the amount of exercise you get each day.

Skipping breakfast

The cardinal sin when it comes to not losing weight is skipping breakfast. They say that the heaviest meal of the day should be your breakfast because this is how the body fuels and prepares itself for the day. To jumpstart your metabolism, it is essential that you get the right amount of breakfast. Many studies have in fact found that people who have breakfast regularly are the ones who lose weight.

Now, if you are wondering why as a woman you are finding it hard to lose weight, then you may be guilty of the above reasons! Make sure you follow a healthy diet and a right kind of lifestyle for being your fittest self.

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Varying reasons are given by different mothers as to why they don’t breastfeed their babies:

Demand at work: With the little usual three months maternity leave given by most work places, mothers sometimes have no choice but go back to work after being with their babies for only a few months. This leaves mothers to leave babies home to be fed on baby formula or some of them resort to breast pumping their milk and storing it in refrigerators.

Inadequate lactation: Some mothers fail to breastfeed because they lack milk in their breasts. For most working mothers, when they resume work they have no time to eat or breastfeed. This makes their bodies to stop producing enough milk to feed their babies since their bodies have started to adjust to the routine.

Biting babies: Some mothers have stopped breast feeding their babies due to the fact that these babies have started to bite. Imagine placing your beautiful baby on the breast and she/he just bites you. The older they get the more tricks these babies bring. One of the mothers confessed   that “when my baby turned 4months, he started biting my nipples. He did this three times which made me put him on baby formula since my breasts had wounds” Says Maurine.

Health conditions: Some mothers have been advised by doctors not to breast feed due to some health conditions like if a mother is HIV positive. The world health organization (WHO) recommends that when HIV positive mother breastfeed, they should receive ARVs and follow WHO guidelines for infant feeding. Other diseases that stop mothers range from tuberculosis, cancer and malaria.

Sagging breasts: Most women believe that breastfeeding makes their breasts sag. Just like today’s generation wants to stay top notch they don’t want to have bad boobs. This makes them hate to breast their little babies. They also complain that when their breasts are breastfeeding their men don’t want to be with them which affects their love making.

Lifestyle: Some mothers don’t want to breast feed because it will change their lifestyle. Bottle feeding leaves new mothers without an option to stay on their diets, food and medications they use. So in order to stay fit or go back to their workout routines they stop breastfeeding.

Unplanned child: Some mothers have had unplanned children, for example if one wants a baby boy and she gives birth to a girl. Some mothers will hate these babies and wish they didn’t give birth to them. This makes them even deny them food/ breast milk.

What do we need to do?

In order to promote breastfeeding and provide good health and nutrition to the child, we need to address the work related challenges of mothers through supporting them with breastfeeding rooms at their work places where they can have breaks to go feed their babies. Or increase on mothers maternity leave to allow them more time with their babies.

Mothers should also feed well in order to increase milk production so that they produce enough milk to feed their babies whenever they need it. They should eat healthy and this means eating a balanced diet. They also should not have stress because stress decreases milk production.

Midwives and doctors should continue doing what they have been doing by continuing to push these mothers to breastfeed their babies other than paying some other person to look after their new born babies

RELATED: 

Ugandan mothers have poor breastfeeding habits-say nutrition experts

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According to Dr. Jasent Asiimwe, the head of nutrition at the health ministry, statistics show that 53% of mothers in Uganda breast feed their babies in the first hour of birth and yet the global target is at least 80%.

A mother breastfeeding her child in Uganda.

He also revealed that whereas children are supposed to be breastfed for at least 2 years after birth, only 48% of children are breastfed for that period across the country.

The experts were speaking during an event commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week which is annually celebrated globally in the first week of August as a way of advocating and creating awareness about the need for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their children for six months so that they can gain immunity to fight common illnesses especially among children under 5 years.

However, the head of community health department at the ministry, Dr. Paul Kaggwa and UNICEF’s Specialist on nutrition, Awi Omega, urged men to always support their women during breast feeding period by providing them with better nutritious foods.

The World Breastfeeding Week 2016 theme is about how breastfeeding is a key element in getting us to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share.

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Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

Kadaga who was speaking with ministry of health officials at parliament said the current labour law does not give mothers enough time to exclusively breastfeed their new borns.The ministry of health officials had paid a courtesy call to the Parliamentary Baby Care Center as one of the activities in commemoration of the Word Exclusive Breastfeeding Day held annually in the first week of August.

The current law allows mothers a 3 months paid leave with fathers also taking 4 days off working to welcome a new born or deal with an aftermath tragedy in case the baby dies.

“World health organization recommends that a baby is supposed to be breastfed exclusively for six months. During this period, a mother needs a lot of rest and a healthy diet so that she can give the best milk to her child to grow healthy. As the parliamentary health committee, you need to double efforts in advocating for an increase of these days ,” Kadaga said.

Dr.Jacent Asiimwe, the head of the nutrition program in the ministry of health, who proposed for the amendments, says the 60 working days that are given to mothers are inadequate given that the recommended time is six months. He said that it is at such a time that a baby exclusively breast feed appropriately.

Assimwe appealed to parliament to make amendments that will see the leaves days increased to 90 working days for mothers while fathers also be increased from the current 4 to 7 days after birth of a new born in a family.

Upon this recommendation, Kadaga tasked Dr. Micheal Bukenya, the chairperson of the health committee and MP for Bukuya County in Mubende district working with team to embark on collecting opinions that will determine if this amendment can be made possible.
What does the law say about work and parents?

The current labour laws in Uganda make certain mention of family related issues. However, existing provisions in the law do not adequately address the issue of working parents. For instance, the law states that working pregnant women are entitled to 60 working days of paid leave, but it does not explain how pregnant mothers should be treated while they have not yet taken their leave or after returning when they have given birth, except that they should be allowed to continue with their work.

The current labour laws in Uganda have no specific provisions for child care. However, some employers for example Parliament do provide child care services, including breastfeeding rooms. Some employers also support children through provision of transport to school or payment of schools.

Some collective bargaining agreements like those in the flower sector also provide other additional support like meals for the child and the working mother.

Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament, however, says whereas the baby care center at parliament is a good step in ensuring that MP mothers can breastfeed their children in a good environment, the center should as well be open for male MPs who might have wives similarly with busy work schedules with no time to look after their babies.

She says this will bring about a shared responsibility among the husband and wife in the upbringing and bonding with the child.

What does the law say about paternity leave?

The law states that in case of child birth or miscarriage of a spouse, a male worker is entitled to four working days of paid paternity leave immediately after the child birth or miscarriage. The male employee however has the obligation to request the leave from his employer. He is free to return to work without any conditions after the expiry of the leave period.

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