KAMPALA – Ms. Robina Atizuyo, is a dedicated midwife at Ovujo Health Centre III in Maracha District, West Nile. Upon arriving in August 2022, she noticed a significant gap between actual deliveries and the monthly target of 446.
“Many expectant mothers opted for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) instead,” she said while sharing her story.
Curious, Atizuyo engaged with them during immunization outreaches and discovered their preferences for TBAs stemmed from respectful treatment and flexibility in delivery positions, specifically squatting. In response, she adapted their approach, allowing mothers to choose their delivery position.
Through awareness campaigns during village outreaches, Atizuyo collaborated with TBAs, educating them on facility delivery benefits. This partnership led to TBAs referring mothers to the facility and assisting with pregnant mapping for antenatal care. Incentivizing TBAs with some small facilitation for each referral further strengthened this collaboration.
“As a result, Ovujo Health Centre III consistently met and exceeded its delivery target by 15%.”
Atizuyo’s initiative demonstrates the power of community engagement, adaptability and collaboration in improving healthcare outcomes. Her innovative approach has saved lives and empowered women, making her a true champion of maternal healthcare.
On Monday, The Swedish Embassy in Kampala hosted the Midwives Award Ceremony 2024, recognizing 13 midwives nationwide for their exceptional work.
Ambassador Maria Håkansson acknowledged the crucial role midwives play in Uganda’s healthcare system, stating, “Midwives are the beating heart of healthcare in this country.”
She emphasized their remarkable contributions, including delivering more babies than recommended by the World Health Organization and their impact on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Uganda has seen significant improvements in maternal and child health, with falling maternal mortality rates, declining infant mortality rates and more mothers receiving antenatal care and giving birth with skilled health professionals.
Despite progress, challenges persist, including teenage pregnancies, which account for 18% of maternal deaths and 20% of infant deaths. Empowering young people to make informed reproductive choices and educating adolescent boys to make responsible choices are essential.
To address these challenges, continued support for midwives is vital, ensuring they receive training, resources and motivation. Midwives empower families to plan their futures, educating women and couples on sexual and reproductive health and advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights.
The ceremony honored 13 extraordinary midwives with the Certificate of Midwifery Excellence, selected through a rigorous national nomination process. Ambassador Håkansson congratulated the awardees, saying, “You are the lifeblood of Uganda’s health system, the unsung heroes of progress.”
This marked the eighth year of the Midwives4All campaign, in collaboration with UNFPA and the Ministry of Health. Her Excellence noted that the ministry’s commitment to promoting gender equality and expanding health services has paved the way for successes celebrated today.
Ambassador emphasized the importance of continued collaboration, stating, “Let us continue, together, to build a brighter, healthier and more equitable future for all Ugandans.”
Daniel Alemu, UNFPA Uganda’s Deputy Country Representative, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Midwives Association for their unwavering commitment to recognizing and honoring Uganda’s midwives since 2015.
“Sweden’s significant financial contributions and collaborative partnerships, particularly the Maternal Health Thematic Fund, have been instrumental in training midwives.”
Alemu also commended the Government of Uganda, especially the Ministry of Health, for its leadership in improving midwifery services across the nation.
“Notable progress includes 8 out of 10 women giving birth with skilled birth attendants, typically midwives, and a significant reduction in maternal mortality rates from 336 to 189 per 100,000 live births. Facility deliveries have also increased from 73% in 2016 to 86% in 2022.”
Despite progress, challenges persist, including stagnant teenage pregnancy rates at 24%, a marginal increase in Contraceptive Prevalence Rate from 35% to 37%, and an unmet need for family planning remaining at 22%. Alemu underscored that midwives play a vital role in addressing these challenges by providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, especially to adolescents and youth.
He also emphasized the need for more midwives to meet national staffing norms and international standards. He urged the Government to implement the newly approved staffing structure, improving the midwife-to-patient ratio and alleviating the healthcare workforce burden. Investing in midwives’ continuous professional development, education and advocacy efforts will elevate their status as leaders in healthcare delivery.
To enhance midwifery services, “UNFPA focuses on strengthening competency-based training, establishing regulatory frameworks, empowering midwifery associations and advocating for increased investment.”
Alemu stressed the importance of creating a supportive work environment for midwives, including timely supplies of medicines and equipment, capacity building for Respectful Maternity Care and safe accommodations.
He expressed deepest gratitude to dedicated midwives for their unwavering commitment to saving mothers and babies and providing compassionate care. “Today, we honor midwives as champions of safe motherhood, acknowledging their dedication to skilled and compassionate care for women, newborns and families.”
Chandia Agnes Baku, Commissioner in charge of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the vital role midwives play in Uganda’s healthcare system.
“Midwives are distinct because they are the custodians in health facilities, providing 24-hour care that allows them to develop strong relationships with mothers and newborns.”
Commissioner Baku noted that more mothers are delivering in health facilities, increasing the workload of midwives. Despite this challenge, she noted that the government is working diligently to improve midwives’ working conditions and enhance their wages.
“The government recognizes midwives’ dedication and compassion, acknowledging their significant impact on mothers’ and newborns’ lives,” she said, assuring midwives that their hard work and commitment are valued and appreciated.
Officiating at the event, Lukia Nakadama, 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the vital role midwives play in reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, calling them “unsung heroes” of the healthcare system.
“Midwives are crucial in reducing teenage pregnancies, a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality.”
Nakadama urged pregnant teenagers to attend at least eight antenatal visits to identify and manage potential complications earlier, stressing the importance of skilled care for safe outcomes.
“Uganda has made significant strides in reducing maternal mortality ratio from 336 out of 100,000 in 2016 to 189 out of 100,000 in 2021.”
She added, “This progress is largely due to midwives’ dedication, especially in hard-to-reach areas.” Despite progress, teenage pregnancies remain a challenge, with over 30,000 teenage girls getting pregnant each month in 2021.
Nakadama thanked development partners, UNFPA and the Swedish Embassy, for recognizing midwives’ contributions, encouraging others to follow suit.
To build on this progress, continued support for midwives is essential through initiatives strengthening competency-based training, establishing regulatory frameworks, empowering midwifery associations and advocating for increased investment.
This ceremony honored midwives’ dedication, compassion and life-saving work. Uganda’s progress in reducing maternal mortality rates is largely attributed to midwives’ tireless efforts. Continued support and recognition will ensure midwives receive necessary resources to excel in their critical roles.
