Maternal death scare: Standard Bank and Department of Health launch ‘Join Hands for Mums’ campaign

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Standard Bank Uganda, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Society for Safe Motherhood (CSSM), has launched a new “For Mom, let’s work together” Activities designed to support maternal health.

CSSM is an initiative of the Uganda Ministry of Health in partnership with other willing private sector players and the public at large to support Uganda in improving maternal health care across the country.

Catherine Poran, CEO of Standard Bank Business Incubator Limited, said, We intend to raise at least UGX 500 million to support different health institutions in the field of safe motherhood.

“Tonight, I want to acknowledge the tireless work of two female Ministers of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Asen and Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwin, who, along with other women and men in the Ministry of Health, have helped improve maternal health in Uganda. Their dedication has been recognized and we are proud to work with them,” she said.

CSSM aims to mobilize resources and unite business organizations and the public to support the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in Uganda.

Currently, Uganda still has an estimated maternal mortality rate of 189 per 100,000 live births, but that is down from 336 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016, according to government statistics.

This year, the campaign plans to purchase and distribute essentials such as blood transfusion refrigerators, anesthesia machines, patient monitors, delivery beds, Doppler fetal monitors, Caesarean section kits, operating tables, infant incubators, infant warmers, and more.

“Last year alone, we spent UGX300 million on maternal and safe motherhood interventions, including donations of equipment and amenities to health facilities. Since we established the Safe Motherhood Business Association, 54 health facilities have benefited from our interventions, thanks to your support,” said Poran.

In Uganda, thousands of women continue to die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Major complications include severe bleeding, infection and obstructed labour.

Poland said: “The Safe Motherhood Walkathon will take place on the first weekend of October 2024 and I would like to encourage everyone to purchase a walkathon kit or donate via FlexiPay, knowing that every penny counts.”

“This event is basically about bringing all the players together because safe motherhood is not a ministry issue,” Dr Diana Atwin, permanent secretary at the ministry, said in an interview after the launch of the event.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that all mothers who come to deliver a baby do not lose their life while giving birth to another life,” she said.

Atwin said the campaign will not only increase participation among all Ugandans but will also help fill the gap caused by limited government funding.

“So, this safe motherhood movement that was started three years ago is bearing fruit because it is gathering more people to support us and provide us with equipment, mommy kits and other things that we need so that our mothers can be better served in our facilities, which the government is not able to provide,” Atwin said.

During the campaign launch, a number of individuals and companies pledged to purchase various equipment for the campaign, based on their financial resources.