Archbishop Kazimba calls for more midwives to curb maternal deaths.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, has called on the government to increase the number of health facilities and midwives across the country to reduce maternal deaths, particularly during childbirth.

 Speaking at a pre-Safe Motherhood conference in Kampala, Archbishop Kazimba emphasized that  lack of nearby health centers forces many expectant mothers to rely on traditional birth attendants, who often lack the skills and equipment needed to handle complicated deliveries, especially cesarean sections.

"The traditional birth attendants have done a great job in the past, but today, we face issues where women need operations.We must ask ourselves, do we have enough midwives? This is something that requires urgent attention," Kazimba stressed.

The Archbishop also urged the government to collaborate with faith leaders to ensure they receive proper information about adolescent health, which they can then share with their communities. 

He encouraged religious leaders to use their platforms to deliver accurate health messages to their congregations.

In addition to this, Sister Jane Frances Kabagenyi, the Maternal Child Health Coordinator for the Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, shared that a network of Catholic sisters has been formed to champion adolescent health in schools. 

The group visits schools to educate students about the risks associated with early pregnancies.  She urged the Ministry of Health to develop tools to monitor and share their work with other religious leaders to strengthen these efforts.

Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, pledged continued support to faith-based health facilities, acknowledging the critical role they play in providing quality healthcare to rural communities. 

He also called on religious leaders to advocate for family planning services and help combat moral decay among teenagers, especially in relation to drug use in universities and higher institutions of learning.

"Faith leaders can help address pressing health issues like family planning, gender-based violence, and the growing problem of drug use among young people.We need to develop simple and clear messages for religious leaders to pass down to their communities," Mwebesa said.

The event saw the launch of the Interfaith Alliance for Health, spearheaded by Faith for Family Health Initiative.

The  Executive Director Faith for family health initiative Jackie Katana noted that religious leaders hold great influence in society and can be key players in advancing health issues.

 "Religious leaders have authority, respect, and are trusted by their audiences. If continuously engaged, they can help ensure better health outcomes across Uganda," Katana said.

As part of their commitment, the faith leaders agreed to conduct at least two community mobilization events using religious structures to promote Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services.

They also pledged to integrate maternal health education into their sermons and religious teachings and to train fellow leaders on essential RMNCAH concepts to serve as health advocates in their communities.

The leaders further committed to reaching 70% of the adolescent population in each district through religious and community structures to tackle key issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and reducing teenage pregnancies.

The pre-Safe Motherhood conference was organized by the Ministry of Health and Faith for Family Health Initiative in collaboration  with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the  Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Uganda and VSO international.