Many mothers, especially ageing women, still believe in the traditional birth attendants (TBA) locally known as “Mulelwa” as individuals who have the experience in leading to better deliverances.
Some say the TBAs have local drugs that even if the pregnancy becomes abnormal, the can easily perform the local magic that mother gives birth.
But Dr. Anita Nansezia, the in-charge of Buzaya health centre III in Buzaya subcounty, Kamuli district, is concerned with the local practice. She describes it as a barbaric practice that wouldn’t be done by the current generation.
Nansezia says the current way of life differs from the life of people, encouraging mothers to shun traditional birth attendants and instead utilize give health facilities. She states that the government established health centres in various sub-counties to extend different services to the citizens.
“That practice must stop. The government has established Health Centre IIIs in all sub counties, so there is no reason why mothers should continue delivering babies in the hands of Mulelwa,” said Nansezia.
She stated that TBAs are responsible for some of the maternal deaths as they are not trained to deliver babies.
“They are not professional. They actually have no knowledge about mothers giving birth. That is why our mothers have severally died from there,” she added.
Delivering in a health facility reduces the risks associated with childbirth, ensuring access to emergency care and lifesaving interventions that traditional birth attendants can not provide.
The government recently banned TBAs from attending to expectant mothers to fight maternal and infant mortality.
The health worker stresses that although there exists mistreatment in health facilities by some nurses as alleged, mothers should report the allegations to authorities.
“You need to report to us those issues. You tell us those nurses that abuse you, and we also report them to our bosses,” she noted.
On January 4, 2024, a 30-year-old Jane Ajambo, a mother of three, tragically lost her life on at Amoge’s residence in Bukasero village, Buyemba parish, Bukatuube subcounty, Mayuge district.
Ajambo was desperate after her pregnancy lasting over thirteen months without delivery and sought the assistance of the renowned “Mulelwa” without the knowledge or consent of her husband.
