Maternal health has taken center stage in the ongoing campaigns for the by-elections of Luweero District Woman Member of parliament. As the race for the Luweero District Woman MP seat heats up, each of the candidates is promising to prioritize maternal health once elected into office. Luweero district is one of the districts affected by maternal deaths because of inadequate health facilities, health workers and negligence.
Elsie Namagambe, an independent candidate blames the maternal deaths in Luweero to negligence amongst health workers. She explains that poor pregnant mothers in the district can’t access maternal health because they are unable to pay for the services. Namagembe says that once elected she will focus on sensitizing women on their rights to access maternal health services and ensuring close supervision to fight negligence amongst health workers.
Brenda Nabukenya, the DP candidate says despite the fact that government claims a reduction in maternal health deaths but the reverse is true. She wonders how maternal health death could be reducing when residents are increasingly crying of simple things such as gloves.
// Cue in; we still believe………………………..’’//
//Cue out;…………………….taxes they pay everyday’’//
Ziadah Gwokyala, the FDC candidate who is also a nurse by profession says that lack of health workers and facilities in health centers have worsened the rate of maternal deaths in the district. She explains that some of the health centers located in villages have a single midwife who comes on appointment. She adds without addressing the two problems the rate of maternal deaths will not change.
Gwokyala promises to allocate one million shillings each month from her allowances to buy equipment for health centers found in villages. Other candidates Rebecca Nalwanga, Elizabeth- Lugudde Nabatanzi and Anna Kirabo have also promised to pressurize government to maternal health funding and lobby none governmental organizations to fight the problem.
But Janet Namusisi a resident of Butuntumula Sub County says despite the fact that what the candidates are saying is true, she is skeptical they can live to their pledges. She explains that politicians make promises in campaigns that they discard immediately they are elected into office. Namusisi urges the politicians to pressurize government to increase funding to the ministry of health to enable the ministry equip health centers with staff and equipment.
Last month over 100 mothers in Luweero and Nakaseke besieged the director general for medical health services Dr Jane Achieng on national safe motherhood day protesting the rampant maternal deaths in the area. Achienge promised to ensure that government recruits more midwives up to the level of health center 11 in next financial year.ponse she promised that government will recruit more midwives upto the level of health center 11 in next financial year.
