The speaker demanded for recruitment of more midwives for health units since there is a shortage of medical workers in the country. In addition she requested the ministry of health to always inform members of parliament on the funds sent to health facilities in their constituencies so as there is close supervision.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative to Uganda Miranda Tabifor  while addressing the members of parliament  on family planning issues at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala urged them to find a solution to the low use of modern contraceptive whereby many women fear side effects and opposition from their partners. Tabifor called on parliament to advocate for additional allocation and expenditure and laws  for implementation of the family planning programmes so as the family planning uptake challenge is addressed.

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Hon Sarah Opendi addressing the gathering

The newly designated minister of state for primary health care Sarah Opendi warns members of parliament against impregnating girls and abandoning them. Opendi says that she has seen members of parliament making women pregnant and abandoning them hence causing abortion.

She made the remarks while speaking to members of parliament on the harnessing the demographic dividends, family planning and linkage to National development at Imperial Royale hotel in Kampala. She says  that as leaders they should promote the use of contraceptives to reduce on the number of abortions brought about by unwanted pregnancy. She adds that out of 5 women who die in the country one dies because of abortion, noting that the number of women that die of abortion in the country has reached 830 per day.

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Rt.Hon. Rebecca Kadaga officiates at the review meeting for the maternal & new born child health strategy

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Experts in nutrition reveal that the country is still faced with a big burden of maternal nutrition which is thought to be under looked by the population and government. According to the nutrition expert, Brenda Namugumya, 12% of women in Uganda are malnourished with 23% (3/10) pregnant women are anaemic which causes huge problem at times of giving birth.

Statistics also continue to indicate that out of the 17 women who die daily while giving birth, only 4 of the deaths are as a result of lack of blood and the experts attribute this to poor feeding which causes malnutrition among expectant women.

Health experts also mention that malnutrition is always brought about by the laxity among families and advise that ready to eat foods should always be consumed by the population to save the alarming situation.

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Beyond Zero was launched on 24^th January 2014 and has since drummed up enthusiasts and well-wishers. Alot has been done in this campaign and next is the First Lady’s Half Marathon to be held in Nairobi on March 8^th 2015. More than 15,000 participants are expected to take part in this run which is an anchor event for the Beyond Zero Campaign. The aim is to raise 600 million Kenya shillings.

The run is not the only event covered in the campaign; a number of mobile clinics have since been handed over with the plan being that each of the 47 counties, beginning with the most vulnerable, will have one. These would provide routine immunization along with other services. To date 20 mobile clinics have been handed over with the latest going to Uasin Gishu County on 26^th February 2015. Recipients include Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka/ Nithi, Kisii, Marsabit, Nyeri, Wajir counties among others.

Many organisations, businessmen as well as international agencies have come in to fund the campaign. Many women and children’s lives will be changed by this cause. Generations will be saved.

In the First Lady’s words: “Ending preventable maternal and new-born deaths in our country is not a choice, it is a necessity.”

Beyond Zero in Pictures

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On our way back from Tinmango, we find the pregnant woman, seated under a tree shade. She has stopped to rest. She is tired. I ask the driver to stop so that we can give her a lift. She gets into the car. She is nine months pregnant. She started the 17 kilometer treck in the morning at about 7:30 a.m. By the time we pick her up, she has walked 8 kilometers. We ask why her husband did not escort her to the Health Center. They have only one bicycle and it has broken down. And so she has to walk. If he manages to repair it, he may come to pick her up once she gives birth.

Good medical care still eludes many Uganda

She has only the clothes she is wearing and a kavera full of mangoes. From the watery stain they leave in the car, I can tell that some of them are already over ripe. The mangoes are the only food she has to feed on over the next few days – depending on when she gives birth.

We drop her at the Health Center III. The place is locked, save for the maternity ward, which is manned by a female traditional birth attendant. The only other medical personel at the Health Center is a student doctor from Gulu, who is away today. We leave the woman at the Health Center and wish her a safe delivery.

As we drive off, I think of the lady and the many like her who treck long miles to access health care. I think of my friends in Kampala, how we throw baby showers. This lady only had a kavera of mangoes, no clothes for herself to change into and no baby clothes to wrap her new bundle of joy.

I think of her as we leave. I thank God for the blessings He has given me. I ask Him to forgive me for taking things for granted. I thank Him that He enabled me meet this woman, so that He can show me just how much I have been blessed – and how much therefore I need to be a blessing to others. I wish her smooth labour on this labour day.

By Jackie Asiimwe Mwesigye

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Many women not as lucky to get through child birth

Addressing a joint press conference at Parliament, Reproductive Health Uganda, UKAID, Network of African Women Ministers Parliamentarians Uganda Chapter, and Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children among others all called for increased funding on matters of maternal health by the government

Kakuto County MP Mathias Kasamba said funding to the health sector should be increased to 15% on the national budget according to the Abuja declaration to which Uganda is a signatory.

Kasamba also made a passionate appeal to MPS to exercise their oversight roles to see that funds are allocated and `put to good use for a health population.

Uganda will be joining the rest in the World to mark World Population day and national celebrations will be held in Kayunga District.

At 3.3%, Uganda has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, but poor health services continue to see many Ugandans die.

By Isaac Senabulya

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The former Bundibujo district  women MP Alisemera Jane said that they will mainly focus on issues of promoting maternal health and sensitising women on their rights.

Meanwhile the state minister for finance in charge of general duties Fred Omachi has advised women  to demand for a gender based desk in his ministry to ensure that the 24 billion that was allocated for maternal health is properly utilized.

During a breakfast meeting with gender development partners Omach told women MPs  that women should also continue to demand for a gender responsive budget tracking process.

The women of the 9th parliament came together to look at the achievements and the challenges ahead of them. Although the women mps are proud of the achievements of the 8th parliament like the Anti female genital mutilation act, women meting today emphasized the need for implementation of gender related policies.

The National female representative for the people living with disabilities Safia Nalule   challenged her colleagues to critically  look at  the proposal  of denying bail to suspects before supporting it.

By Isaac Senabulya

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Many women not as lucky to get through child birth

Mary Kamukama who is leading the group says the government has not done enough to combat maternal mortality, yet the constitution provides for the right to life and the right to proper health care which the government should provide.

She says recent reports indicate 16 women die every day in Uganda while giving birth, a figure she says is unacceptable.

Kamukama says they want court to pronounce itself on the health and life rights provided in the constitution and compel the government to provide a basic maternal health care package in all health centres across the country so that pregnant women receive appropriate attendance.

She says the court will greatly help save the lives of women if it compels the government to invest more money in providing maternal health services in order to ensure the rights of pregnant women to life and good health are upheld.

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Mother and baby. Many women in Uganda do not deliver safely

The Caravan which started in Nairobi has had its official launch at the Mengo Primary School Open Grounds and the official launch was presided over by the Right Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira.

The Head Organiser of the Caravan Dr. Angelina Dawa has told journalists at its official launch that the Caravan will carry the key message of “No Woman should die while giving life” which echoes the African Union slogan.

Dr. Dawa says that improved health including sexual and reproductive health contributes to economic growth, social equity and gender equality and should therefore  be taken seriously by the East African countries.

She says that is the reason why they have started this campaign that will compel East African countries to take more seriously the issue of sexual and maternal health.

The Caravan has also been to Kigali in Rwanda, Arusha in Tanzania, Mbarara, Kabale and Masaka and these towns it has held various public rallies with various groups of people like health professionals and policy makers on the crisis of maternal mortality in Africa.

It is estimated out of about 536,000 maternal deaths that occurred worldwide in 2005, more than 270, 000 which is more than half of those occurred in the sub- Saharan Africa region alone.

Uganda is due to host the Africa Union summit from 19^th -27 July which is being held with a focus on achieving the Millennium Development Goal on maternal health and reducing child mortality.

By Zacharia Tiberindwa, Ultimate Media

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