WRA Uganda Meets With Health Professionals

WRA Uganda meeting with 40 health professionals at Arua Regional Referral Hospital to discuss maternal health issues and forge a working partnership to save women while giving birth.

A CARING HUSBAND PLAYS HIS PART

By Gertrude Kayaga & Elman Nsinda
WRA Uganda

Kyazze & Agnes sharing  joy of their first newborn at their home in Lukuli Kampala

Agnes Kyazze gives birth to a baby girl after her husband becomes a core for her support. The Husband is called Kyazze Denis, being WRA member, he is aware of what to do for her pregnant wife. He accompanies her to health centre for antenatal checkups; he encourages her to do some exercise as well as giving her nutritious food staffs.

At 11:00pm, 9th February 2011, Agnes starts seeing signs for delivery;’ traces of blood and she feels pain. She informs the husband, and he seeks a motorcycle (Bodaboda) to take her to the nearby clinic, but Agnes stops him as she wants to go by foot in order to have exercise.

“On the 9^th Feb 2011, it came to labour time at around 11:00pm in the evening and I felt pain and saw some signs of delivering like traces of blood.My husband Looked for a bodaboda motorist for transport to the clinic but I stopped him. We footed up to Lukuli clinic because it was not very far and it would it help me do some exercise. During pregnancy, I have been visiting hope clinic in lukuli where I have been receiving antenatal services. Every visit, I used to go with my husband. My husband has been taking good care of me and telling me what to do”. Agnes narrates.

While pain increases, they reach the health facility which has only one mid-wife and busy at the moment! What comes next?

“When we got there, there was one mid-wife still attending to a mother and told us to wait.

We waited for 20 minutes; thereafter a doctor came and attended to me. At 2: 50am, I gave birth to a baby girl who had no problem and I myself was in good condition”. Says Agnes.

Denis is a member of WRA and was one of the youth convoy crew in Kampala. He is thankful to WRA for having equipped him with maternal health information that has empowered him to support his wife for safe motherhood.

“This information has helped me to become responsible and accountable for that pregnancy. We are so grateful for WRA, for we are knowledgeable about safe motherhood massages we get that have managed to save us”.

It’s very wise for the family and the community at large to prepare for pregnancy for instance saving money to cater for things like medical checkups for the pregnant mother, transport, mamakit and medical charges among other requirements. This helps to mitigate panic at the labour time. Denis had done well but he experienced fears at the time of labour, he had little money to cater for needs at the time as he narrates:

“I had no enough money but I improvised, and am now happy my wife and baby managed to make it. I have been working had saving money, and giving her advice on how to take care of herself”.

WRA-UGANDA SPREADS TO MID-WEST UGANDA!

By Tracy Walakira

WRA Uganda Youth Advocate

 WRA members in Hoima District pose for a group photo after awareness meeting 

We are in the mid-western Uganda in Kiboga District, spreading safe motherhood messages to new stakeholders. We traveled from Kampala on 14^th February and managed to hold different meetings in Kiboga District with the District Council Officials such as the Community Development Officer, the Deputy Community Administrative Officer, and the Chief Health Inspector; visited the District Head Office and had a meeting with the Staff. We have also reached out to the media in the area & continuing to do the same in other Districts.

After Kiboga we have continued to Kyankwanzi, which is the next District and done the same work; bringing different stakeholders to appreciating maternal and new born health issues & come on board to advocate for positive change. We have met with some of WRA members here who have been so helpful in mobilizing different stakeholders. We have managed to sensitize & register 14 new members and also formed a WRA regional Committee to carry on with ground work in the area with the help of the team from WRA Uganda Secretariat.

It's such a tremendous experience seeing how the Alliance is growing bigger and bigger & people appreciating maternal health issues in our Country. The Youth Convoy experience really helped us realize how we can reach-out to so many people in just a short while. We have encouraged the members to involve in the "Dreams for My daughter Activity" as we commemorate the 100^th International Women's Day Anniversary. We are continuing to Hoima, Masindi and Arua District