Jinja: The Federation of Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI), in collaboration with the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), has launched the Maternal and Child Health Run to bolster the health of pregnant mothers in the Busoga subregion. The inaugural marathon is scheduled for Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja City.
Partnering with the Ministry of Health, Busoga Health Forum, Busoga Kingdom, and many other organizations, FUMI is implementing a significant campaign aimed at enhancing the lives of mothers and newborn babies in the labor ward.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday afternoon at Civil Service College in Jinja City, Mr. Anthony Mula, the Director General of BCD, said the campaign is an action to support the well-being of expectant mothers in Busoga.
“This run is an effort to support the health and well-being of pregnant mothers and children in our subregion of Busoga, which is composed of eleven districts. All the proceeds from this run will go towards improving health facilities in Busoga to enhance the lives of our people,” Mr. Mula said during a press conference.
The run will be led by a seasoned advocate for girls, Rebecca Kadaga, who is also the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda. According to Mula, Kadaga will be the chief runner.
Maternal health challenges in Busoga remain high and unprecedented, leading to preventable deaths. Mr. Mula believes that with proper interventions, these lives can be saved.
“We believe that these deaths are preventable. If interventions are taken, we should be able to save as many mothers and children as possible, ensuring that Busoga can grow and flourish,” he noted.
Mula emphasized that women are invaluable and significantly contribute to the development of society by promoting peace and food security. However, they face several challenges that hinder their contributions to the country’s development.
The proceeds from the marathon are intended to improve the status of health facilities in Busoga, which are inadequately equipped. Health center IVs across the different districts in Busoga will receive much-needed equipment.
Mula said that the marathon is a tool to raise awareness about the importance of addressing maternal health challenges and promoting healthy behaviors and practices in communities.
“We need to keep mothers and children healthy, and one way to achieve this is through exercise. I, therefore, extend an invitation to all the people of Busoga and friends to come and participate in this noble cause,” he urged the public.
Dr. Oscar Melvin, the chairperson of the Busoga Maternal and Child Health Run, emphasized, “We are primarily focused on contributing to national efforts to improve maternal and child health.”
Nationally, out of every 100 women, 75 die while giving birth. In Busoga, however, 384 out of every 1,000 mothers lose their lives in labor wards, which, according to Dr. Melvin, is three times the national average.
“Out of every 100,000 children born at the national level, we lose twenty-eight, but in Busoga, we lose fifty-eight. That is almost triple, and it should concern all of us as Ugandans,” Dr. Melvin said, calling on Busoga residents to participate in the run.
Serving as the Minister of Health in FUMI, Dr. Melvin emphasized the importance of collective efforts in addressing maternal health issues, stating that Busoga can achieve zero maternal deaths with the right interventions.
Representing the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH) director, Dr. Samuel Kasibante shared that mothers are dying under their care, and it is high time these challenges were addressed. He expressed readiness to participate in the event, as JRRH is a core health facility in the region.
Dr. Moses Kyangwa, the Executive Director of Busoga Health Forum, said the run will feature several activities, including blood donation, HIV testing and counseling, cancer screening, and other health education sessions.
Anchaburu Maburuka, a senior midwife at JRRH who has served for over three decades, narrated the challenges mothers face during delivery, many of whom lose their lives due to a lack of necessary materials in labor wards.
“The most painful moment is when a mother comes to the labor ward and goes back with a lifeless baby. As a mother and a midwife, I call for all possible solutions to address this issue. If the marathon can be a solution, let us all participate and try it out to save the lives of our mothers,” she said.
The kits are sold at UGX 25,000, UGX 35,000, and UGX 50,000. Each kit includes a water bottle, vest, wristband, and cap.
